NameCensus.

UK surname

Kantor

A Jewish occupational surname referring to a cantor, the leader of liturgical singing in a synagogue.

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Kantor surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 190, ranked #20,262, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Southend-on-Sea, Barnet and Hackney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kantor is 191 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9400.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

190

2016, ranked #20,262

Peak year

2015

191 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kantor had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 190 in 2016, ranked #20,262.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 11 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Kantor surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kantor surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kantor 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 1 #33,412
1861 historical 6 #33,230
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1891 historical 6 #33,800
1901 historical 11 #32,907
1911 historical 6 #33,255
1997 modern 82 #29,325
1998 modern 95 #28,303
1999 modern 93 #28,711
2000 modern 99 #27,845
2001 modern 96 #27,976
2002 modern 99 #28,082
2003 modern 104 #27,101
2004 modern 100 #27,964
2005 modern 104 #27,369
2006 modern 110 #26,717
2007 modern 124 #25,086
2008 modern 125 #25,249
2009 modern 135 #24,594
2010 modern 149 #23,598
2011 modern 158 #22,473
2012 modern 175 #20,984
2013 modern 183 #20,722
2014 modern 186 #20,664
2015 modern 191 #20,205
2016 modern 190 #20,262

Geography

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Where Kantors are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Southend-on-Sea, Barnet, Hackney and Harrow. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Southend-on-Sea 014 Southend-on-Sea
2 Barnet 033 Barnet
3 Barnet 037 Barnet
4 Hackney 021 Hackney
5 Harrow 002 Harrow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kantor

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kantor

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Kantor surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Kantor 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 are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Kantor is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kantor is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kantor falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kantor is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Kantor

The surname Kantor is of German origin, with its roots traceable back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German word "Kantor," which refers to a church precentor or a leader of a choir. This occupation-based surname suggests that the earliest bearers of this name were likely associated with religious institutions or musical roles within churches.

The name Kantor is believed to have originated in various regions of Germany, particularly in areas where the German language was predominant. Its earliest recorded appearance can be found in medieval documents and records dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries, although the exact dates and locations remain uncertain.

One of the earliest known references to the name Kantor can be found in the Stadtbuch (city book) of Quedlinburg, a town in present-day Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. This record, dating back to the 14th century, mentions a certain Johannes Kantor, who was likely a precentor or choir leader in one of the local churches.

In the 15th century, the name Kantor appeared in the Nürnberger Bürgerbuch (Nuremberg citizen book), which documented the citizens of the imperial city of Nuremberg. This suggests that individuals bearing this surname had established themselves in this influential city during that time period.

Notable individuals with the surname Kantor throughout history include:

1. Benedykt Kantor (c. 1530-1608), a Polish Renaissance composer and organist. 2. Tadeusz Kantor (1915-1990), a renowned Polish avant-garde artist, painter, and theater director, known for his innovative theatrical productions and experimental approach to art. 3. Shari Kantor (born 1965), an American writer and editor, best known for her work on the popular television series "The X-Files." 4. Marvin Kantor (1923-2004), an American sociologist and author, known for his contributions to the field of social psychology. 5. Mikhail Kantor (born 1957), a Russian businessman and philanthropist, who is the co-founder of the World Holocaust Forum Foundation.

While the surname Kantor has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to various parts of the world, with notable bearers emerging in countries like Poland, Russia, and the United States, among others. The name's enduring presence serves as a testament to its rich historical and cultural significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kantor families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kantor 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. Lancashire leads with 2 Kantors recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.74x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 2 8.74x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 2 Kantors recorded in 1881 and an index of 143.88x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 2 143.88x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Hannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Aaron 1

Top occupations

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 Kantor households.

Occupation Count
Glazier 1

FAQ

Kantor surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kantor surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Kantor surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kantor surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 190 in 2016. That gives Kantor a modern rank of #20,262.

What does the Kantor surname mean?

A Jewish occupational surname referring to a cantor, the leader of liturgical singing in a synagogue.

What does the Kantor map show?

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