Find out how popular the last name Cancer is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Cancer.

Cancer, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Cancer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cancer in America

Cancer is the 116201st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cancer surname appeared 150 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Cancer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cancer to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Cancer

The surname Cancer has its origins in Spain, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is a toponymic name derived from the Spanish word "cancro," which means "crab" or "cancer." This word stems from the Latin word "cancer," which refers to the zodiac sign of Cancer or a crab-like creature.

The name Cancer is believed to have originated in the region of Andalusia, where it was likely given to someone who lived near a river or body of water where crabs were abundant. It may have also been a descriptive name given to an individual with a crab-like appearance or mannerisms.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cancer can be found in the "Libro del Repartimiento de Sevilla," a 13th-century document that recorded the distribution of land and properties after the reconquest of Seville from the Moors in 1248. The document mentions individuals with the surname Cancer, indicating their presence in the region during that period.

In the 15th century, a notable individual named Juan Cancer was a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Seville. He is mentioned in several historical records from that era, highlighting the importance and influence of the Cancer family in the region.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Diego Cancer, a Spanish explorer and navigator who accompanied Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the Americas in 1493. Diego Cancer played a crucial role in the exploration and colonization of the Caribbean islands.

During the 16th century, the surname Cancer spread to other parts of Spain, as well as to the Spanish colonies in the Americas. In Mexico, there is a record of a woman named María Cancer, who was born in 1567 in the city of Puebla.

In the 17th century, a prominent figure with the surname Cancer was Pedro Cancer, a Spanish painter and engraver who was active in Madrid during the reign of King Philip IV. His works are displayed in various museums and art galleries across Spain.

Another notable individual was Juan Cancer y Velasco, a Spanish military officer and explorer who served as the governor of the Philippines from 1688 to 1693. He played a significant role in the defense of the Spanish colonies against Dutch and English forces in the region.

Throughout history, the surname Cancer has been associated with various professions and areas of influence, including merchants, explorers, artists, and military leaders. While its origins can be traced back to Spain, the name has spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cancer

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Cancer.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Cancer was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Cancer has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Cancer was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Cancer, please contact us.

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