NameCensus.

UK surname

Canton

A locational surname referring to someone who lived in a corner, nook, or secluded valley.

In the 1881 census there were 201 people recorded with the Canton surname, ranking it #12,791 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 288, ranked #15,180, down from #12,791 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), St Mary and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pembrokeshire and New Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Canton is 289 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 43.3%.

1881 census count

201

Ranked #12,791

Modern count

288

2016, ranked #15,180

Peak year

2014

289 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Canton had 201 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,791 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 288 in 2016, ranked #15,180.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 255 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Canton surname distribution map

The map shows where the Canton surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Canton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Canton over time

The 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 166 #11,986
1861 historical 255 #9,699
1881 historical 201 #12,791
1891 historical 250 #12,762
1901 historical 251 #13,102
1911 historical 235 #13,484
1997 modern 261 #14,849
1998 modern 275 #14,715
1999 modern 273 #14,875
2000 modern 270 #14,943
2001 modern 267 #14,839
2002 modern 273 #14,892
2003 modern 263 #15,109
2004 modern 270 #14,913
2005 modern 264 #15,085
2006 modern 259 #15,370
2007 modern 260 #15,476
2008 modern 253 #15,941
2009 modern 259 #16,013
2010 modern 270 #15,896
2011 modern 272 #15,653
2012 modern 265 #15,862
2013 modern 269 #15,963
2014 modern 289 #15,251
2015 modern 285 #15,307
2016 modern 288 #15,180

Geography

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Where Cantons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), St Mary, London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Pembrokeshire and New Forest. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 St Mary Pembrokeshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Pembrokeshire 008 Pembrokeshire
2 Pembrokeshire 013 Pembrokeshire
3 Pembrokeshire 014 Pembrokeshire
4 New Forest 013 New Forest
5 Pembrokeshire 011 Pembrokeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Canton

These lists show first names that appear often with the Canton surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Canton

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Canton, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Canton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Canton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Canton is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Canton is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Canton falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Canton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Canton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Canton

The surname Canton originated in France, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "canton," which referred to a district or division of a larger territory. This term likely has its roots in the Latin word "cantus," meaning "corner" or "side."

The name Canton was initially found in the northern regions of France, particularly in the areas of Normandy and Picardy. These regions were known for their administrative divisions called "cantons," which may have contributed to the surname's development.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Canton surname appears in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This document mentions a landowner named Robertus de Cantunia, which is believed to be an early variant of the Canton name.

In the 13th century, records show a nobleman named Guillaume de Canton who owned lands in the Champagne region of France. Another notable figure from this period was Jean Canton, a French philosopher and theologian who lived from 1240 to 1310.

During the Renaissance period, the Canton name gained prominence with the birth of Jean Canton, a renowned French painter and engraver who lived from 1510 to 1587. His works were highly regarded and can be found in various art collections across Europe.

In the 18th century, a notable figure with the Canton surname was John Canton, an English physicist and teacher born in 1718. He made significant contributions to the study of electricity and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1749. Canton died in 1772.

Another prominent individual was William Canton, an English writer and journalist born in 1845. He was a prolific author and contributed to various publications, including The Graphic and The Illustrated London News. Canton passed away in 1926.

Throughout history, the Canton surname has been associated with various locations, including the town of Canton in Picardy, France, and the city of Canton (now known as Guangzhou) in China. While the name's origins are primarily French, it has spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Canton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Canton surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Pembrokeshire leads with 67 Cantons recorded in 1881 and an index of 108.63x.

County Total Index
Pembrokeshire 67 108.63x
Middlesex 49 2.52x
Glamorgan 14 4.14x
Kent 9 1.36x
Lancashire 9 0.39x
Surrey 7 0.74x
Gloucestershire 6 1.58x
Hampshire 6 1.51x
Staffordshire 6 0.92x
Essex 5 1.31x
Yorkshire 5 0.26x
Hertfordshire 3 2.24x
Lincolnshire 2 0.64x
Monmouthshire 2 1.43x
Sussex 2 0.61x
Cardiganshire 1 2.11x
Carmarthenshire 1 1.22x
Cheshire 1 0.23x
Lanarkshire 1 0.16x
Norfolk 1 0.34x
Shropshire 1 0.60x
Wigtownshire 1 3.88x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stackpole Elidor in Pembrokeshire leads with 18 Cantons recorded in 1881 and an index of 9000.00x.

Place Total Index
Stackpole Elidor 18 9000.00x
Pembroke St Mary 13 163.73x
Pembroke St Michael 8 898.88x
Redberth 8 13333.33x
Shoreditch London 8 9.51x
Hackney London 7 6.43x
Maidstone 7 35.48x
Penally 7 1707.32x
Llanwonno 6 49.42x
Wolstanton 6 30.15x
Ryde 5 58.48x
St Pancras London 5 3.20x
Westminster St James 5 25.06x
Islington London 4 2.13x
Romford 4 66.01x
Sheffield 4 6.53x
St Marylebone London 4 3.86x
Stroud 4 53.98x
Williamston 4 1212.12x
Camberwell 3 2.42x
Cheshunt 3 64.10x
Chiswick 3 28.28x
Lambeth 3 1.77x
Lampeter Velfrey 3 461.54x
Llandaff 3 26.69x
Roch 3 833.33x
St Martin In Fields 3 25.82x
Swansea St Thomas 3 88.24x
Aberystruth 2 16.17x
Hornsey 2 8.15x
Hulme 2 4.16x
Kensington London 2 1.85x
Liverpool 2 1.43x
St Petrox 2 2500.00x
Warrington 2 7.33x
Aberdare 1 4.31x
Acton 1 8.79x
Aldershot 1 7.50x
Birkdale 1 17.15x
Brighton 1 1.51x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 2.79x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 14.47x
Fulham London 1 3.55x
Govan 1 0.64x
Gt Ness 1 227.27x
Hastings St Mary 1 12.29x
Haverfordwest St Thomas 1 81.30x
Holy Trinity 1 2.16x
Hyde 1 7.91x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 1 11.16x
Lewisham 1 2.83x
Llanychaiarn 1 250.00x
Merthyr Tydfil 1 3.08x
Mile End Old Town London 1 2.42x
Newington 1 1.39x
Penboyr 1 117.65x
Penninghame 1 38.02x
Prittlewell 1 18.83x
Sefton 1 384.62x
Sempringham 1 1666.67x
Spitalfields London 1 6.85x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.92x
St George Martyr London 1 25.45x
Tetbury 1 46.30x
Walton On Hill 1 8.01x
Witham On Hill 1 769.23x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Canton surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 16
Elizabeth 9
Emma 5
Annie 4
Martha 4
Susan 4
Ann 3
Harriet 3
Sarah 3
Agnes 2
Alice 2
Anne 2
Catherine 2
Ellen 2
Ethel 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Jane 2
Maria 2
Ada 1
Amelia 1
Bridget 1
Catheline 1
Clara 1
Clementine 1
Deciena 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elen 1
Elizth. 1
George 1
Georgianna 1
Georgina 1
H. 1
Helen 1
Hester 1
Hildie 1
Jeannie 1
Jemima 1
Jharboth 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
M. 1
Margaret 1
Pelissa 1
Ruth 1
Violet 1
Zoe 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Canton surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 17
John 9
Charles 7
George 7
Thomas 5
James 4
Walter 4
Frank 3
Frederick 3
Henry 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Edwin 2
Abel 1
Anderson 1
Benjamin 1
Claude 1
Crucifia 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Elie 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
Joseph 1
Lewis 1
Loftus 1
Mark 1
Michael 1
Oliver 1
Owen 1
Patrick 1
Robert 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Timothy 1
Vernon 1
W.J. 1

FAQ

Canton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Canton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 201 people were recorded with the Canton surname. That placed it at #12,791 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Canton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 288 in 2016. That gives Canton a modern rank of #15,180.

What does the Canton surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone who lived in a corner, nook, or secluded valley.

What does the Canton map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Canton bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.