Surname Cator - Meaning and Origin

Cator: What does the surname Cator mean?

The last name Cator is of French origin and represents a variant of lector or 'reader' in Old French. It is an occupational surname, referring to a profession or trade. In this case, the person bearing the last name Cator might have been a reader, possibly someone who read scriptures in a church, or alternatively an announcer in a court. The historical use of the surname suggests that it was likely used during medieval times when literacy was not widespread. As such, a 'Cator' bearing such name might have enjoyed a certain level of prestige or respect within their community. It's important to note that the exact meaning can vary, and the surname may have different origins and meanings in different countries.

Cator: Where does the name Cator come from?

The surname Cator is derived from the Middle English term "cater", a variant of "acater" which means a buyer or purchaser, often in the context of a food provider such as a caterer. Thus, it's originally an occupational surname, connected to provision and trade.

The Cator surname emerged in England during the Middle Ages and continues to be prevalent in that country. Today, it is common in several regions of the United Kingdom, especially in southern and eastern England, in areas like Kent and Cambridgeshire.

Outside the UK, the Cator surname can be found in certain Commonwealth countries including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand due to historical emigration patterns. However, it remains less common in non-English speaking countries.

One should note that variations of the surname, such as Cater, may also exist as a result of regional dialects, spelling changes over time or adoption by different language communities. This could potentially expand the geographical distribution of the surname.

Variations of the surname Cator

The surname Cator originates from England and can have varying spelling and versions. Some of the common variations include Cater, Cato, Catore, Cattore, Catto, Kater, Katter and Kator.

The surname may also be related to similar sounding names but of different origin such as Kato, from Hungary or Gato from Portugal. More distant connections might also be possible with surnames like Catora, Catorelli, Catorino, which may be of Italian origin, or Catoire from France.

It is also worth mentioning that the surname can also be affected by regional accents and dialects, which can lead to more variations in spelling, such as Cotter or Cutter.

Surname variations can also result from transcription errors, when names were recorded by clerks, census takers, or other officials who may have written the name as they heard it, leading to different spellings such as Catre, Cutore or Kettor.

In some cultures, it's common to add prefixes or suffixes to the root name, which might create variations like McAter, O’Cator, or Catorson.

However, all these variations, while sharing a similar spelling or sound, might not necessarily originate from the same root as Cator.

Famous people with the name Cator

• Alfred Cator: He was a British Conservative Party politician.
• Richard Cator: Well-known British army officer.
• Bridget Cator: Also known as Bridget Allworthy, she was an English actress active in the 1790s.
• Michael Cator: Renowned as a sergeant major of the British Army who served in World War II.
• Toby Cator: A well-known English cricketer. These are the most notable individuals with the `Cator` surname.

Other surnames

Caton