Cant

Cant
This interesting and unusual surname is of Old French origin, and is a metonymic occupational name for a singer in a chantry, a chorister or precentor. The derivation is from the Old Norman-French "cant", Old French "chant", singing, song. Job descriptive surnames originally denoted the actual occupation of the namebearer, and later became hereditary. Early examples of the surname include: Richard Caunt (Huntingdonshire, 1357); William Cant, a tenant under the Douglases in the barony of Aberdoure, Fifeshire, 1376; and Richard Cante, noted in the Register of Arbroath Abbey, Scotland, 1485. In the modern idiom the name has three variant spellings Cant, Chaunt and Chant. On June 10th 1576, Margaret Chaunt and John Bowyer were married at St. Christopher le Stocks, London, and on July 14th 1689, Susana Chant married a Samuel Beer at St. Mary's, Marylebone Road, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard Cante, which was dated 1327, in the "Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk", during the reign of King Edward 111, known as "The Father of the Navy", 1327 - 1377. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • Cant — or canting may refer to:*Empty, hypocritical talk See [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cant wiktionary article] *Cant (language), a secret language **Thieves cant **Shelta language or the Cant, a language used by the Irish Travellers *Cant… …   Wikipedia

  • cant — CANT, canturi, s.n. 1. Muchie, latură a unor obiecte. 2. Parte a copertei de carton care depăşeşte dimensiunile filelor unei cărţi legate, ale unui caiet sau ale unui registru. 3. Margine, muchie a suprafeţei de alunecare a schiurilor. – Din germ …   Dicționar Român

  • Cant — Cant, n. [OF., edge, angle, prof. from L. canthus the iron ring round a carriage wheel, a wheel, Gr. ? the corner of the eye, the felly of a wheel; cf. W. cant the stake or tire of a wheel. Cf. {Canthus}, {Canton}, {Cantle}.] 1. A corner; angle;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Cant — Cant, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Canted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Canting}.] 1. To incline; to set at an angle; to tilt over; to tip upon the edge; as, to cant a cask; to cant a ship. [1913 Webster] 2. To give a sudden turn or new direction to; as, to cant… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • cânt — CÂNT, cânturi, s.n. 1. Cântare, cântec; ciripit de păsări. 2. Poezie (însoţită uneori de melodie). 3. Parte, diviziune a unui poem epic. – Din cânta (derivat regresiv). Trimis de valeriu, 03.03.2003. Sursa: DEX 98  CÂNT s. 1. cântare, cântat,… …   Dicționar Român

  • cant — cant1 [kant] n. [< L cantus: see CHANT] 1. whining, singsong speech, esp. as used by beggars 2. the secret slang of beggars, thieves, etc.; argot 3. the special words and phrases used by those in a certain sect, occupation, etc.; jargon 4.… …   English World dictionary

  • Cant — Cant, n. [Prob. from OF. cant, F. chant, singing, in allusion to the singing or whining tine of voice used by beggars, fr. L. cantus. See {Chant}.] 1. An affected, singsong mode of speaking. [1913 Webster] 2. The idioms and peculiarities of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Cant — Cant, a. Of the nature of cant; affected; vulgar. [1913 Webster] To introduce and multiply cant words in the most ruinous corruption in any language. Swift. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Cant — Cant, n. [Prob. from OF. cant, equiv. to L. quantum; cf. F. encan, fr. L. in quantum, i.e. for how much? ] A call for bidders at a public sale; an auction. To sell their leases by cant. Swift. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • cant — Ⅰ. cant [1] ► NOUN 1) hypocritical and sanctimonious talk. 2) derogatory language peculiar to a specified group. 3) (before another noun ) denoting a phrase or catchword temporarily current: a cant word. ► VERB dated ▪ talk hypocritically and… …   English terms dictionary

  • Cant — Cant, v. i. 1. To speak in a whining voice, or an affected, singsong tone. [1913 Webster] 2. To make whining pretensions to goodness; to talk with an affectation of religion, philanthropy, etc.; to practice hypocrisy; as, a canting fanatic. [1913 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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