History of your Surname
Get access to Cantrell family records.Start a free trial

Cantrell Family History

Cantrell Name Meaning

English (of Norman origin): from Old French canterelle chanterelle a diminutive of c(h)anteor ‘singer’. Compare Cantor . It was used as an alternative name for Chantecler the cock in medieval French versions of the folk story of Reynard the Fox (Le Roman de Renard). English: sometimes a variant of Quintrell . English: occasionally perhaps a habitational name from Cantrell in Devon early recorded as Canterhulle named from an unexplained first element + Old English hyll ‘hill’. Altered form of French Cantrelle .

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Cantwell, Carrell, Cottrell, Cartmell, Castell, Carel, Cantarella

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Cantrell family from?

You can see how Cantrell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Cantrell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Cantrell families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 31 Cantrell families living in Tennessee. This was about 26% of all the recorded Cantrell's in USA. Tennessee had the highest population of Cantrell families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Cantrell surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Cantrell ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Cantrell. 26% of Cantrell men worked as a Farmer and 7% of Cantrell women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Cantrell were Farming and Waitress. .

View Census Data for Cantrell | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    26%
  • Laborer
    20%
  • Salesman
    4%
  • Farming
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    7%
  • Teacher
    6%
  • Housewife
    6%
  • Waitress
    5%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Cantrell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 83,000 census records available for the last name Cantrell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Cantrell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Cantrell

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Cantrell. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Cantrell immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 23,000 military records available for the last name Cantrell. For the veterans among your Cantrell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Cantrell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Cantrell family history

Discover More

What is the average Cantrell lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Cantrell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Cantrell in 1940 was 54, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Cantrell

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Cantrell family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Cantrell last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial