Kanter

Kanter is a surname of Germanic origin, derived from Kantor, meaning cantor—the liturgical singer who leads chants in a synagogue or church. The spelling variants Kantor and Cantor reflect transliteration differences across languages and regions.

The name is found among Jewish and non-Jewish populations in several countries, including the United States, Germany, Israel, and the United Kingdom, with roots in Central and Eastern Europe. Like many occupational surnames, Kanter has been passed down through generations and spread by migration and marriage, leading to a broad distribution in modern times.

Today, Kanter appears across a range of communities and professions, without a single defining association. The surname is typically treated as a family name rather than a descriptor of occupation in contemporary use.