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

Cantrell, 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 Cantrell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cantrell in America

Cantrell is the 988th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cantrell surname appeared 35,266 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 12 people would have the surname Cantrell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cantrell 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 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.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cantrell

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

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 Cantrell 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 Cantrell 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 Cantrell was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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