NameCensus.

UK surname

Cantrell

An English occupational surname derived from the Old French "chanterelle," referring to a singer or chorister.

In the 1881 census there were 416 people recorded with the Cantrell surname, ranking it #7,749 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 601, ranked #8,708, down from #7,749 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Leek and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mansfield, Bolsover and High Peak.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cantrell is 616 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 44.5%.

1881 census count

416

Ranked #7,749

Modern count

601

2016, ranked #8,708

Peak year

2014

616 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cantrell had 416 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,749 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 601 in 2016, ranked #8,708.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 521 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Cantrell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cantrell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cantrell 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 242 #9,001
1861 historical 255 #9,699
1881 historical 416 #7,749
1891 historical 373 #9,367
1901 historical 521 #7,811
1911 historical 475 #8,144
1997 modern 540 #8,782
1998 modern 571 #8,675
1999 modern 587 #8,569
2000 modern 574 #8,662
2001 modern 571 #8,575
2002 modern 599 #8,472
2003 modern 584 #8,491
2004 modern 573 #8,608
2005 modern 570 #8,582
2006 modern 569 #8,612
2007 modern 587 #8,505
2008 modern 589 #8,539
2009 modern 579 #8,814
2010 modern 590 #8,902
2011 modern 596 #8,735
2012 modern 604 #8,562
2013 modern 600 #8,752
2014 modern 616 #8,616
2015 modern 615 #8,556
2016 modern 601 #8,708

Geography

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Where Cantrells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Leek, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Stapenhill and Kidderminster. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mansfield, Bolsover, High Peak and Rotherham. 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 Prestbury Cheshire
2 Leek Staffordshire
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Stapenhill Staffordshire
5 Kidderminster Worcestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mansfield 001 Mansfield
2 Bolsover 006 Bolsover
3 High Peak 010 High Peak
4 Rotherham 010 Rotherham
5 Mansfield 007 Mansfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cantrell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cantrell

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Cantrell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Cantrell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Cantrell 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

Cantrell 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

Cantrell falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cantrell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Cantrell

The surname Cantrell is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "cantel" or "cantref," which referred to a division of land or a hundred in certain parts of Britain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name dates back to the 13th century, appearing in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273 as "William de Cantrelau." This entry suggests that the name may have been connected to a specific location or place name.

Historically, the Cantrell surname has been associated with various regions in England, particularly the counties of Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire. It is likely that the name originated as a descriptive term referring to someone who lived in or near a specific "cantref" or hundred.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1332, recorded as "Robertus de Cantrell." This record provides evidence of the name's presence in the region during that time period.

One notable figure bearing the Cantrell surname was Sir Robert Cantrell (c. 1370-1443), a prominent English politician and knight who served as a Member of Parliament for Lancashire. He played a significant role in the Wars of the Roses, supporting the House of Lancaster.

Another historical figure was Thomas Cantrell (1575-1647), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Bishop of Killala and Achonry in Ireland. He was known for his writings on religious matters during the early 17th century.

In the literary realm, Geoffrey Cantrell (1849-1935) was an English author and poet who wrote several works, including "The Bacchanal" and "The Poems of Geoffrey Cantrell."

The name Cantrell has also been associated with notable individuals in the United States, such as James Cantrell (1804-1887), a prominent lawyer and judge from Kentucky, and Charles Cantrell (1906-1983), an American actor known for his roles in Western films.

While the Cantrell surname has its roots in England, it has spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. Over time, various spellings and variations of the name have emerged, including Cantrell, Cantrill, and Cantrell, reflecting the linguistic and cultural influences of different regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cantrell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cantrell 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. Derbyshire leads with 89 Cantrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.11x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 89 14.11x
Yorkshire 89 2.23x
Staffordshire 56 4.12x
Lancashire 35 0.73x
Middlesex 33 0.82x
Warwickshire 18 1.77x
Cheshire 14 1.57x
Surrey 14 0.71x
Nottinghamshire 13 2.39x
Worcestershire 12 2.28x
Shropshire 7 2.01x
Berkshire 5 1.65x
Norfolk 5 0.81x
Buckinghamshire 4 1.64x
Devon 4 0.48x
Essex 4 0.50x
Leicestershire 4 0.90x
Hampshire 2 0.24x
Kent 2 0.15x
Angus 1 0.27x
Herefordshire 1 0.61x
Hertfordshire 1 0.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sheffield in Yorkshire leads with 27 Cantrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.24x.

Place Total Index
Sheffield 27 21.24x
Nether Hallam 19 35.18x
Ecclesall Bierlow 17 20.94x
Brightside Bierlow 13 16.60x
Camberwell 13 5.05x
Paddington London 10 6.75x
Whittington 10 114.55x
Birmingham 9 2.66x
Foleshill 9 84.19x
Burton Extra 8 102.56x
Stapenhill 8 85.20x
Burton Upon Trent 7 22.01x
Buxton 7 131.09x
Everton 7 4.59x
Sheen 7 1206.90x
Tettenhall 7 84.24x
Winster 7 608.70x
Ashover 6 191.08x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 6 16.13x
Brimington 6 125.26x
Hagley 6 352.94x
Kidderminster Borough 6 19.49x
Litchurch 6 23.64x
Ockbrook 6 223.88x
Poulton Barre 6 110.29x
Sutton Cum Duckmanton 6 909.09x
Chelsea London 5 4.12x
Leek Lowe 5 27.64x
Lenton 5 39.09x
Macclesfield 5 12.65x
Radford 5 18.12x
Salford 5 3.56x
Stone 5 28.75x
Anstey 4 225.99x
Belper 4 32.71x
Bradnop Cawdry 4 655.74x
Bray 4 45.05x
Flagg 4 1538.46x
Ipstones 4 205.13x
Islington London 4 1.02x
Langford 4 1250.00x
Manchester 4 1.86x
Mile End New Town London 4 50.25x
Onibury 4 634.92x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 6.19x
St Pancras London 4 1.23x
Stanton Newhall 4 198.02x
Warrington 4 7.06x
Burntwood Edial 3 34.52x
Butterton 3 937.50x
Derby All Sts 3 56.93x
Dukinfield 3 7.30x
Great Yarmouth 3 5.85x
Hale 3 97.72x
Holy Trinity 3 3.12x
Liscard 3 18.73x
Newton 3 8.14x
Stoke Upon Trent 3 2.08x
Ashborne 2 46.62x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.14x
Bulwell 2 16.93x
Datchet 2 119.76x
Eaton 2 322.58x
Heigham 2 6.02x
Matlock 2 23.61x
Oldham 2 1.30x
Scarcliff 2 235.29x
Upton Cum Chalvey 2 20.60x
Winshill 2 49.75x
Bradford 1 1.03x
Burnley 1 2.48x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 1.32x
Crondall 1 22.57x
Edmonton 1 3.08x
Hampton London 1 15.11x
Kensington London 1 0.45x
Ludlow St Lawrence 1 14.45x
Rotherham 1 4.44x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 1.23x
Woodthorpe 1 88.50x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 26
Sarah 20
Elizabeth 19
Ann 10
Emily 10
Jane 7
Eliza 6
Ellen 6
Hannah 6
Annie 5
Fanny 5
Agnes 4
Alice 4
Catherine 4
Emma 4
Harriet 4
Lucy 4
Martha 4
May 4
Anne 3
Caroline 3
Clara 3
Florence 3
Julia 3
Louisa 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Edith 2
Frances 2
Henrietta 2
Keziah 2
Lizzie 2
Marian 2
Marion 2
Minnie 2
Carry 1
Ethel 1
Floret 1
Grace 1
H.E. 1
Harriett 1
Helena 1
Ida 1
Infant 1
Juliana 1
Kathleen 1
Mabel 1
Mahala 1
Margeret 1
Tracy 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Cantrell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cantrell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 416 people were recorded with the Cantrell surname. That placed it at #7,749 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cantrell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 601 in 2016. That gives Cantrell a modern rank of #8,708.

What does the Cantrell surname mean?

An English occupational surname derived from the Old French "chanterelle," referring to a singer or chorister.

What does the Cantrell map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cantrell 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.