Kantor Surname: Origin, Meaning & Coat of Arms

Seen on a birth certificate or a ship's manifest, Kantor is usually a form of Kanter. Read literally, Kantor points to “The soloist who sang liturgical music in the synagogue”.

Kantor and Kanter

Kantor is listed among the recognised spellings of Kanter. Before spelling was standardised, one family could appear under several forms.

In the 2010 US Census, 3,982 Americans gave Kantor as their last name (rank 8,322). Names that sound alike, such as Cantor, are easily confused in old records.

Kantor coat of arms

Looking for a Kantor coat of arms? Arms were granted to families, not to surnames, and our research shows which heraldic tradition fits yours.

For the full story, order the Kantor surname pack.