Contents [hide]

Cant History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

United States Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Cant History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

Early Origins of the Cant family

The surname Cant was first found in Pomerania, where the family contributed greatly to the development of an emerging nation and would later play a large role in the political conflicts of the area. The family branched into many houses, many of which acquired estates and manors throughout the surrounding regions, where they played significant roles in the social and political affairs. Individual bearers of the name first mentioned in ancient chronicles include Arnold Cantor of Rostock in 1298, and Andreas Kanther of Stuttgart in 1498. The literal meaning of the name is the ecclesiastic position of cantor.

Early History of the Cant family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cant research. Another 117 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1724, 1727 and 1804 are included under the topic Early Cant History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cant Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Kanter, Canter, Kante, Cante, Kant, Cant, Kahnt, Kantt, Cantt, Kanther, Kanters, Cantor (Latin), Kantor, Kanthor, Canthor, Kanthen and many more.

Early Notables of the Cant family

Another 37 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cant Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cant migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Cant Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Heindric Cant, aged 29, who arrived in New York in 1639 1
Jan Cant, aged 29, who landed in New York in 1639 1
David Cant, who arrived in Virginia in 1658 1
Mary Cant, who arrived in Virginia in 1663 1
Tho Cant, who landed in Virginia in 1663 1
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Cant Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Catherine Cant who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1775

Cant Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Christopher Cant, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1816 1
William Cant, who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1820
James Cant, who landed in America in 1830 1
Catherine Cant, who landed in New York in 1832 1

Cant migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Cant Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. George Cant, British Convict who was convicted in London, England for life, transported aboard the "Asia" on 25th April 1840, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 2
Mr. George Cant, Scottish convict who was convicted in Perth, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Equestrian" on 30th June 1845, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 3
Betsy Cant, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Baboo" in 1848 4
Charlotte Cant, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Baboo" in 1848 4
George Cant, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Baboo" in 1848 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Cant migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Cant Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Ambrose Cant, (b. 1825), aged 30, British carpenter travelling from London aboard the ship "Grasmere" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 4th May 1855 5
Ellen Cant, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "John Masterman" in 1857
Miss Elizabeth Cant, (b. 1850), aged 15, English domestic servant from Essex travelling from London aboard the ship "Tudor" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 24th September 1865 6
Mr. Daniel Cant, (b. 1846), aged 19, English carpenter from England travelling from London aboard the ship "Tudor" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 24th September 1865 6
Mrs. Sarah Ann Cant, (b. 1827), aged 38, English settler from Essex travelling from London aboard the ship "Tudor" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 24th September 1865 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Cant migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 7

Cant Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Robert Cant, who settled in Barbados in 1634
Mr. Warrant Cant, aged 19, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Hopewell" arriving in Barbados on 17th February 1634 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Cant (post 1700) +

William Alexander Cant (1863-1933), United States federal judge
Gilbert Cant (1909-1982), English-born, American journalist and war correspondent at the New York Post
Brian Cant (1933-2017), English actor, television presenter and writer, best known for his work in BBC television programmes for children
Hartley Gordon James "Harry" Cant (1907-1977), Australian politician, Senator for Western Australia (1959-1974)
Andrew Cant (b. 1899), Scottish professional footballer
Robert Bowen Cant (1915-1997), British Labour politician, Member of the UK Parliament for Stoke-on-Trent Central (1966-1983)
Cannon Cant, Chancellor of York
Lisa Cant (b. 1984), Canadian super model

Citations +

Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1840
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/equestrian
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BABOO 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848Baboo.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies