NameCensus.

UK surname

Cantrill

An English surname derived from the French towns of Canteloup or Chantilly.

In the 1881 census there were 406 people recorded with the Cantrill surname, ranking it #7,880 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 784, ranked #7,037, up from #7,880 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stapenhill, Foleshill and Chesterfield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ashfield, Derbyshire Dales and Doncaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cantrill is 837 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 93.1%.

1881 census count

406

Ranked #7,880

Modern count

784

2016, ranked #7,037

Peak year

1998

837 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cantrill had 406 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,880 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 784 in 2016, ranked #7,037.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 679 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cantrill surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cantrill surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cantrill 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 317 #7,308
1861 historical 259 #9,561
1881 historical 406 #7,880
1891 historical 470 #7,798
1901 historical 520 #7,818
1911 historical 679 #6,225
1997 modern 767 #6,758
1998 modern 837 #6,515
1999 modern 831 #6,599
2000 modern 825 #6,617
2001 modern 809 #6,592
2002 modern 808 #6,722
2003 modern 795 #6,685
2004 modern 800 #6,673
2005 modern 795 #6,641
2006 modern 801 #6,622
2007 modern 796 #6,721
2008 modern 791 #6,816
2009 modern 803 #6,865
2010 modern 811 #6,940
2011 modern 788 #7,045
2012 modern 771 #7,073
2013 modern 793 #7,011
2014 modern 802 #6,989
2015 modern 791 #7,000
2016 modern 784 #7,037

Geography

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Where Cantrills are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stapenhill, Foleshill, Chesterfield, Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ashfield, Derbyshire Dales, Doncaster and South Derbyshire. 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 Stapenhill Staffordshire
2 Foleshill Warwickshire
3 Chesterfield Derbyshire
4 Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken Warwickshire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ashfield 010 Ashfield
2 Derbyshire Dales 006 Derbyshire Dales
3 Doncaster 034 Doncaster
4 South Derbyshire 007 South Derbyshire
5 South Derbyshire 009 South Derbyshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cantrill

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cantrill

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cantrill, 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 Cantrill surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Cantrill 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Cantrill is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cantrill is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cantrill 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 Cantrill 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 Cantrill, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Cantrill

The surname Cantrill is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the early medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, derived from a place called Cantrell or Cantrill located in one of the northern counties of England, possibly Yorkshire or Lancashire.

The name itself is thought to be a combination of the Old English words "cant" and "rel," with "cant" meaning a prominent or projecting ridge or hill, and "rel" referring to a stream or small watercourse. This suggests that the name likely referred to a settlement situated near a ridge or hill by a stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Cantrelau" and "Cantrelaw," referring to individuals residing in the areas now known as Catterall and Cantrell in Lancashire.

In the 13th century, records show individuals with variations of the name, such as Cantrel, Cantrell, and Cantrill, living in various parts of northern England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire.

Notable individuals with the surname Cantrill include:

1. William Cantrill (c. 1675-1734), an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including St Paul's Church in Covent Garden.

2. John Cantrill (1798-1873), a British politician and Member of Parliament for the borough of Lincoln from 1835 to 1837.

3. Henry Cantrill (1814-1893), an English clergyman and author, known for his work on the history of the Church of England.

4. Thomas Cantrill (1834-1914), a British artist and engraver, best known for his architectural and landscape etchings.

5. Edward Cantrill (1864-1935), a British engineer and inventor, who patented several innovations in the field of steam engine design.

Over time, the Cantrill surname has spread beyond its English origins, with individuals bearing this name found in various parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and other English-speaking countries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cantrill families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cantrill 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 127 Cantrills recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.48x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 127 20.48x
Yorkshire 83 2.11x
Warwickshire 50 5.01x
Staffordshire 37 2.77x
Lancashire 30 0.64x
Nottinghamshire 24 4.50x
Cheshire 14 1.60x
Buckinghamshire 10 4.18x
Leicestershire 8 1.82x
Middlesex 8 0.20x
Surrey 6 0.31x
Somerset 5 0.78x
Northumberland 3 0.51x
Northamptonshire 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Foleshill in Warwickshire leads with 33 Cantrills recorded in 1881 and an index of 313.99x.

Place Total Index
Foleshill 33 313.99x
Stapenhill 32 346.70x
Brimington 25 530.79x
Aston 16 5.82x
Chorlton On Medlock 12 16.08x
Tong 12 158.31x
Derby St Alkmund 11 59.20x
Nether Hallam 11 20.72x
Brightside Bierlow 10 12.99x
Chesterfield 10 43.03x
Burntwood Edial 9 105.39x
Cheddleton 9 321.43x
South Normanton 9 206.42x
Macclesfield 8 20.59x
Skelton In Guisbrough 8 75.33x
Stoke Poges 8 273.97x
Brampton 7 80.74x
Derby St Peter 7 35.44x
Hucknall Under 7 254.55x
Nottingham St Mary 7 5.07x
Redmire 7 1489.36x
West Derby 7 5.09x
Normanton 6 114.50x
Alvaston 5 282.49x
Burnham 5 102.88x
Church Gresley 5 50.71x
Kirkby In Ashfield 5 87.57x
Manchester 5 2.37x
Manningham 5 10.34x
Clayton 4 41.67x
Dadlington 4 1739.13x
Ecclesall Bierlow 4 5.01x
Hornsey 4 7.99x
Leek Lowe 4 22.48x
Mansfield 4 21.66x
Packington 4 256.41x
Pudsey 4 19.07x
Rotherham 4 18.08x
Wolstanton 4 9.85x
Wolverhampton 4 3.89x
Camberwell 3 1.19x
Dunham Massey 3 111.94x
Elswick 3 6.38x
Kingsley 3 120.48x
Preston Under Soar 3 612.24x
Sutton Cum Duckmanton 3 461.54x
Arkengarthdale 2 147.06x
Ashton Under Lyne 2 1.95x
Dukinfield 2 4.95x
Farnham Royal 2 140.85x
Idle 2 10.99x
Melbourne 2 47.17x
Pendleton In Salford 2 3.57x
Soothill 2 14.10x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 2.51x
Wakefield 2 6.64x
Winshill 2 50.63x
Barton Upon Irwell 1 2.83x
Beeston 1 16.31x
Bradford 1 1.05x
Burton Upon Trent 1 3.20x
Edgbaston 1 3.23x
Fisherwick 1 769.23x
Handforth 1 100.00x
Hardingstone 1 28.09x
Hasland 1 15.85x
Lichfield St Michael 1 23.81x
Mayfield 1 59.88x
Mile End Old Town London 1 1.19x
Newington 1 0.68x
Pickering 1 20.24x
Smisby 1 250.00x
Spitalfields London 1 3.36x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 5.83x
St Marylebone London 1 0.47x
Stanley 1 86.96x
Stretford 1 3.87x
Wensley 1 227.27x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 27
George 19
Henry 19
William 15
John 14
Joseph 14
Charles 8
James 6
Frederick 5
Alfred 4
Benjamin 4
Samuel 4
Ralph 3
Tom 3
Edward 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Godfrey 2
Harry 2
Isaac 2
Jacob 2
Michael 2
Robert 2
Wm. 2
Arthur 1
Benjn. 1
Chas.William 1
David 1
Davis 1
E. 1
Fredk.J. 1
Gerald 1
Herbert 1
Jesse 1
Jno.Henson 1
Jonathon 1
Josh. 1
Josiah 1
Leonard 1
Levi 1
Louis 1
Nathiel 1
Patrick 1
Richard 1
Roland 1
S.W. 1
Sam 1
Saml. 1
Wm.Henry 1

FAQ

Cantrill surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cantrill surname in 1881?

In 1881, 406 people were recorded with the Cantrill surname. That placed it at #7,880 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cantrill surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 784 in 2016. That gives Cantrill a modern rank of #7,037.

What does the Cantrill surname mean?

An English surname derived from the French towns of Canteloup or Chantilly.

What does the Cantrill map show?

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