Canton Family History

English Welsh (Pembrokeshire) and Irish (Mayo and Westmeath of Anglo-Norman origin): shortened form of Cannington from Cannington (Somerset). The first of this name in Pembrokeshire was an Anglo-Norman lord Sir William de Cantington of Eglwyswrw, also known as Hen Wiliam Caentwyn who died c. 1230. The surname was frequently written as Cantetone, Caunton, and Canton.

In the late 12th or early 13th century, members of the Pembrokeshire family obtained estates in Ireland where it was Gaelicized as Condún; see Condon.

English (of Huguenot origin): habitational name from Cantin Nord (France). Galician (Cantón): habitational name from any of the places in Lugo and Pontevedra provinces (in Galicia, Spain) named Cantón, from a derivative of canto ‘corner’ (see Canto).

French (southern): topographic name from Occitan canton ‘corner’ denoting someone who lived on a street corner.