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

Kantor, 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 Kantor surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kantor in America

Kantor is the 8322nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kantor surname appeared 3,982 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Kantor.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kantor 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 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.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kantor

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

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

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

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