UK surname
A surname of English origin, potentially derived from a placename or describing someone who lived by a canal.
In the 1881 census there were 111 people recorded with the Cantell surname, ranking it #18,597 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 69, ranked #33,762, down from #18,597 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Newhaven, Ensham and Oxford City: St Thomas. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cantell is 111 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 37.8%.
1881 census count
111
Ranked #18,597
Modern count
69
2016, ranked #33,762
Peak year
1881
111 bearers
Map years
1
1881 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Cantell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Cantell surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 45 | #25,168 |
| 1861 | historical | 87 | #22,681 |
| 1881 | historical | 111 | #18,597 |
| 1891 | historical | 71 | #27,934 |
| 1901 | historical | 92 | #23,800 |
| 1911 | historical | 88 | #24,041 |
| 1997 | modern | 65 | #31,141 |
| 1998 | modern | 76 | #30,386 |
| 1999 | modern | 71 | #31,036 |
| 2000 | modern | 68 | #31,380 |
| 2001 | modern | 63 | #31,693 |
| 2002 | modern | 68 | #31,626 |
| 2003 | modern | 61 | #32,352 |
| 2004 | modern | 64 | #32,286 |
| 2005 | modern | 69 | #32,007 |
| 2006 | modern | 64 | #32,839 |
| 2007 | modern | 63 | #33,243 |
| 2008 | modern | 64 | #33,402 |
| 2009 | modern | 70 | #33,182 |
| 2010 | modern | 76 | #33,009 |
| 2011 | modern | 75 | #33,071 |
| 2012 | modern | 73 | #33,431 |
| 2013 | modern | 69 | #33,808 |
| 2014 | modern | 66 | #34,025 |
| 2015 | modern | 69 | #33,788 |
| 2016 | modern | 69 | #33,762 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Newhaven, Ensham, Oxford City: St Thomas, South Stoneham and Cowley, Iffley (Nuneham Courtney, Berkshire, including Littlemoor Liberty), St Clement. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newhaven | Sussex |
| 2 | Ensham | Oxfordshire |
| 3 | Oxford City: St Thomas | Oxfordshire |
| 4 | South Stoneham | Hampshire |
| 5 | Cowley, Iffley (Nuneham Courtney, Berkshire, including Littlemoor Liberty), St Clement | Oxfordshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Cantell surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cantell, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Cantell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Cantell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Cantell is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cantell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Cantell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname CANTELL originated in England, likely in the medieval period. The name is thought to be derived from the Old French word "cantil," meaning a small wooden ledge or shelf. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to an occupational surname for someone who made or worked with wood shelves or ledges.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name CANTELL can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where a John Cantell is listed in Oxfordshire. The Subsidy Rolls of 1327 also mention a Thomas Cantyll in Sussex. These early spellings show variations like Cantyll and Cantyll, reflecting the name's evolution over time.
In the 14th century, the name CANTELL appeared in various records, such as the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1334, which listed a William Cantell in Somerset. The Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 also mention a John Cantell in Yorkshire.
During the 16th century, the name CANTELL was found in various parts of England, including Kent, where a Thomas Cantell was recorded in the Feet of Fines in 1548. The Subsidy Rolls of 1597 mention a John Cantell in Berkshire.
Notable individuals with the surname CANTELL include William Cantell (1677-1735), an English clergyman and writer who published several works on theology and philosophy. Another prominent figure was John Cantell (1758-1826), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.
Other historical figures bearing the name CANTELL include Thomas Cantell (1766-1841), an English architect who designed several churches and other buildings in Kent. In the 19th century, James Cantell (1818-1897) was a British businessman and philanthropist, known for his charitable contributions in London.
The CANTELL surname also has connections to place names in England, such as Cantell's Farm in Kent, which was mentioned in records dating back to the 16th century. This suggests that the name may have originated from a specific location or area associated with the occupation or trade of making wooden shelves or ledges.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cantell surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Oxfordshire leads with 41 Cantells recorded in 1881 and an index of 53.60x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Oxfordshire | 41 | 53.60x |
| Hampshire | 17 | 6.70x |
| Channel Islands | 16 | 43.60x |
| Sussex | 13 | 6.22x |
| Middlesex | 11 | 0.89x |
| Cornwall | 10 | 7.13x |
| Berkshire | 6 | 6.45x |
| Glamorgan | 5 | 2.32x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.14x |
| Northamptonshire | 2 | 1.72x |
| Brecknockshire | 1 | 4.04x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 1.97x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.24x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.08x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oxford St Clement in Oxfordshire leads with 15 Cantells recorded in 1881 and an index of 777.20x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Oxford St Clement | 15 | 777.20x |
| Oxford St Thomas | 14 | 392.16x |
| Grouville | 10 | 980.39x |
| Mylor | 10 | 1063.83x |
| Newhaven | 9 | 529.41x |
| St Mary Extra | 8 | 392.16x |
| Islington London | 7 | 5.83x |
| Abingdon St Helen | 6 | 220.59x |
| Llangynwyd Higher | 5 | 480.77x |
| Eynsham | 4 | 833.33x |
| St Martin | 4 | 177.78x |
| Witney | 4 | 312.50x |
| Hailey | 3 | 555.56x |
| South Stoneham | 3 | 54.45x |
| Titchfield | 3 | 157.07x |
| New Shoreham | 2 | 160.00x |
| Northampton Priory St | 2 | 28.61x |
| Southampton St Mary | 2 | 12.52x |
| St Helier | 2 | 16.74x |
| St Marylebone London | 2 | 3.02x |
| Tottenham | 2 | 10.14x |
| Basingstoke | 1 | 34.25x |
| Brighton | 1 | 2.37x |
| Colwall | 1 | 158.73x |
| Cowley | 1 | 41.84x |
| Folkestone | 1 | 12.20x |
| Hay | 1 | 108.70x |
| Leeds | 1 | 1.44x |
| North Meols | 1 | 6.95x |
| Preston | 1 | 27.40x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 2.01x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Cantell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 9 |
| Sarah | 5 |
| Elizabeth | 4 |
| Jane | 4 |
| Charlotte | 3 |
| Ada | 2 |
| Amelia | 2 |
| Ellen | 2 |
| Isabel | 2 |
| Lucy | 2 |
| Maria | 2 |
| Martha | 2 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Ann | 1 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Annie | 1 |
| Bertha | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Carrie | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Dorcas | 1 |
| Elenor | 1 |
| Eliz. | 1 |
| Eliza | 1 |
| Emily | 1 |
| Emma | 1 |
| Ester | 1 |
| Ethel | 1 |
| F. | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Henrietta | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Laura | 1 |
| Letisha | 1 |
| Lilian | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Rose | 1 |
| Rubina | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
| Tryfena | 1 |
| Waire | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Cantell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Cantell households.
FAQ
In 1881, 111 people were recorded with the Cantell surname. That placed it at #18,597 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 69 in 2016. That gives Cantell a modern rank of #33,762.
A surname of English origin, potentially derived from a placename or describing someone who lived by a canal.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cantell bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.