Cantu History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Italy
Spain

This Spanish and Portugese topographic name Cantu meant 'one who dwelt on a patch of stoney ground, or near a quarrey'. It was also a metonymic occupational name for a quarry man or mason, originally rendered in the Latin form "Cantus" (the rim or edge of a wheel).

Alternatively, the name could have been a local name, derived from the name of the place where the first person who brought it lived or had land. From the point of view of its etymology, this ancient word means "extremity or side", "tip or corner". From this information we can deduce that the first bearer of this surname probably lived near a quarry or in a fairly rocky place.

Early Origins of the Cantu family

The surname Cantu was first found in Aragon an ancient Kingdom of Spain.

Early History of the Cantu family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cantu research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1420 and 1875 are included under the topic Early Cantu History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cantu Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Cañete, Canete, Canet, Caneta, Canette, Canetta, Canetons and many more.

Early Notables of the Cantu family

More information is included under the topic Early Cantu Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cantu Ranking

In the United States, the name Cantu is the 787^th most popular surname with an estimated 37,305 people with that name. 1

Cantu migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Cantu Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Plutareo Cantu, aged 24, who landed in America, in 1895

Cantu Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Angela Cantu, aged 26, who immigrated to the United States from Milan, Italy, in 1905
Angelo Cantu, aged 23, who settled in America from Carbonara, Italy, in 1912
Francesco Cantu, aged 44, who immigrated to the United States from Palazzago, Italy, in 1913
Rinaldo Cantu, aged 18, who immigrated to the United States from Paloizzago, Italy, in 1913
Violante Cantu, aged 7, who landed in America from Pastringo, Verona, in 1916
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Cantu (post 1700) +

Rolando Cantu (b. 1981), Mexican former American football player who was a tackle for the Arizona Cardinals
Rachael Cantu (b. 1981), American singer-songwriter
Oscar Cantú (b. 1966), American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church
Norma V. Cantu (b. 1954), American civil rights lawyer and educator, Chair of the United States Commission on Civil Rights (2021-)
Norma Elia Cantú (b. 1947), American writer, Murchison Professor in the Humanities at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas
Nicolas Cantu (b. 2003), American actor and YouTuber
Lionel Cantú (1965-2002), American sociologist and assistant professor of sociology at the University of California, Santa Cruz
Homaro Cantu (1976-2015), American chef and inventor, best known for his use of molecular gastronomy
Hector Cantú (b. 1961), American writer, editor, and newspaper comic strip creator
Rodolfo Torre Cantú (1964-2010), Mexican politician
... (Another 11 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/