NameCensus.

UK surname

Capel

A place name surname typically deriving from or indicating origins near a chapel.

In the 1881 census there were 886 people recorded with the Capel surname, ranking it #4,287 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,018, ranked #5,725, down from #4,287 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Sussex, Cardiff and South Gloucestershire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Capel is 1,147 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.9%.

1881 census count

886

Ranked #4,287

Modern count

1,018

2016, ranked #5,725

Peak year

1911

1,147 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Capel had 886 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,287 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,018 in 2016, ranked #5,725.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,147 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Capel surname distribution map

The map shows where the Capel surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Capel surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Capel over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 484 #5,151
1861 historical 552 #4,768
1881 historical 886 #4,287
1891 historical 898 #4,587
1901 historical 1,087 #4,446
1911 historical 1,147 #4,072
1997 modern 1,053 #5,260
1998 modern 1,102 #5,255
1999 modern 1,110 #5,257
2000 modern 1,100 #5,265
2001 modern 1,073 #5,275
2002 modern 1,070 #5,395
2003 modern 1,041 #5,418
2004 modern 1,033 #5,470
2005 modern 998 #5,562
2006 modern 1,003 #5,553
2007 modern 1,021 #5,517
2008 modern 1,022 #5,547
2009 modern 1,040 #5,597
2010 modern 1,058 #5,612
2011 modern 1,029 #5,691
2012 modern 1,019 #5,649
2013 modern 1,055 #5,578
2014 modern 1,032 #5,710
2015 modern 1,004 #5,788
2016 modern 1,018 #5,725

Geography

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Where Capels are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Pancras and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Sussex, Cardiff, South Gloucestershire, Bradford and Sedgemoor. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Sussex 001 Mid Sussex
2 Cardiff 026 Cardiff
3 South Gloucestershire 011 South Gloucestershire
4 Bradford 034 Bradford
5 Sedgemoor 002 Sedgemoor

Forenames

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First names often paired with Capel

These lists show first names that appear often with the Capel surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Capel

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Capel, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Capel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Capel household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Capel is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Capel is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Capel falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Capel is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Capel, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Capel

The surname CAPEL is of English origin, deriving from the Old Norman French word "capel" or "chapel," meaning a small church or oratory. This name likely originated in the medieval period, possibly as early as the 11th or 12th century, when many Norman-French words and names were introduced to England following the Norman Conquest in 1066.

The surname CAPEL may have been initially adopted as a locational name, referring to someone who lived near or was associated with a small chapel or church. It could also have been an occupational surname for someone who worked or served in a chapel. In some cases, the name may have been given as a descriptive nickname to someone who frequently visited or had a particular affinity for a local chapel.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname CAPEL can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Capel" and "Capella." This suggests that the name was already in use shortly after the Norman Conquest. Over time, various spellings emerged, including Capell, Cappell, and Cappelle.

In the 13th century, a notable bearer of the name was Sir William Capel (c. 1248-1319), an English landowner and member of the gentry from Hertfordshire. Another early figure was Sir Arthur Capel (c. 1604-1649), a Royalist during the English Civil War who was executed by Parliamentary forces.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the CAPEL surname was particularly prevalent in parts of Essex, Suffolk, and Kent, where several places bear the name, such as Capel St. Mary in Suffolk and Capel-le-Ferne in Kent. This indicates that the name may have originated as a locational surname in these areas.

Other notable individuals with the surname CAPEL include Arthur Capel, 1st Earl of Essex (1631-1683), an English courtier and politician, and Monsignor Thomas John Capel (1836-1911), an English Roman Catholic priest and theologian.

Throughout its history, the surname CAPEL has maintained a strong presence in various parts of England, and its origins can be traced back to the Norman-French language and the medieval period, with connections to small churches, chapels, and ecclesiastical associations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Capel families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Capel surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 126 Capels recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.46x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 126 1.46x
Buckinghamshire 119 22.75x
Surrey 94 2.23x
Somerset 68 4.88x
Warwickshire 38 1.74x
Berkshire 36 5.54x
Gloucestershire 36 2.12x
Oxfordshire 33 6.18x
Yorkshire 29 0.34x
Monmouthshire 26 4.16x
Hertfordshire 23 3.86x
Essex 22 1.29x
Bedfordshire 21 4.69x
Cornwall 21 2.14x
Staffordshire 21 0.72x
Leicestershire 19 1.98x
Kent 17 0.58x
Sussex 15 1.03x
Dorset 12 2.11x
Glamorgan 11 0.73x
Hampshire 11 0.62x
Northamptonshire 11 1.35x
Nottinghamshire 11 0.94x
Lancashire 9 0.09x
Durham 8 0.31x
Lincolnshire 8 0.58x
Herefordshire 7 1.97x
Derbyshire 6 0.44x
Devon 6 0.33x
Northumberland 4 0.31x
Ayrshire 3 0.46x
Cheshire 3 0.16x
Wiltshire 3 0.39x
Channel Islands 2 0.78x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.73x
Suffolk 2 0.19x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.18x
Cardiganshire 1 0.47x
Flintshire 1 0.43x
Worcestershire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Thornborough in Buckinghamshire leads with 52 Capels recorded in 1881 and an index of 3023.26x.

Place Total Index
Thornborough 52 3023.26x
St Pancras London 40 5.74x
Lambeth 31 4.11x
Clapham 18 16.64x
St Marylebone London 18 3.90x
Cumnor 15 501.67x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 12 7.51x
Stewkley 12 301.51x
Battersea 11 3.46x
Oxford St Thomas 11 44.11x
Paddington London 11 3.46x
St Woollos 11 15.76x
Camberwell 10 1.81x
Leicester St Mary 10 12.90x
Birmingham 9 1.24x
Brighton 9 3.06x
Cardiff St Mary 9 10.84x
Market Harborough 9 207.37x
Nailsea 9 163.64x
Reading St Mary 9 17.30x
Sunbury 9 86.62x
Wardington 9 491.80x
Badgworth 8 963.86x
Camborne 8 19.82x
Islington London 8 0.95x
Newington 8 2.50x
Newport Pagnell 8 73.13x
St Ervan 8 689.66x
Wallingford St Leonard 8 264.90x
West Hatch 8 645.16x
Weston Super Mare 8 22.75x
Wycombe 8 20.51x
Aspley Guise 7 163.17x
Bethnal Green London 7 1.86x
Bulwell 7 27.60x
Fordington 7 57.24x
Friskney 7 159.09x
Luton 7 9.03x
Shenley Brook End 7 1076.92x
Tupsley 7 232.56x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 6 7.51x
Bedford St Mary 6 51.99x
Bedwellty 6 5.43x
Berkhampstead 6 44.74x
Linton Upon Ouse 6 681.82x
Shoreditch London 6 1.60x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 3.45x
St George Bloomsbury 6 12.09x
Theydon Bois 6 231.66x
Walthamstow 6 9.76x
Whaddon 6 500.00x
Wrington 6 128.48x
Alveston 5 208.33x
Barwick 5 357.14x
Bishopwearmouth 5 2.26x
Blisworth 5 159.24x
Brightside Bierlow 5 2.97x
Brinklow 5 215.52x
Bulkington 5 105.93x
East Barnet 5 42.27x
Great Easton 5 215.52x
Handsworth 5 6.95x
Kensington London 5 1.04x
Norbury 5 793.65x
Oxford St Ebbe 5 31.79x
Sowe 5 127.23x
Stony Stratford East 5 232.56x
Stony Stratford West 5 138.89x
Walcot 5 6.74x
Widnes 5 6.75x
Abergavenny 4 17.08x
Barnsley 4 4.52x
Bedminster 4 3.06x
Bicknoller 4 412.37x
Christon 4 2352.94x
Elswick 4 3.89x
Horninglow 4 29.07x
Portsea 4 1.15x
St Anne Soho London 4 8.10x
Woolwich 4 3.67x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Capel surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Capel surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 62
John 39
George 36
James 33
Thomas 29
Henry 21
Charles 15
Edward 14
Joseph 14
Arthur 11
Albert 8
Ernest 8
Alfred 7
Frederick 7
Herbert 5
Robert 5
Harry 4
Walter 4
Benjamin 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Wm. 3
Chas. 2
Edd. 2
Edwd. 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Fredk. 2
Fredrick 2
Geo. 2
Isaac 2
Saml. 2
Thos. 2
Agness 1
Alphenus 1
Amos 1
Bevis 1
Bury 1
C.B. 1
Caleb 1
E. 1
Edd.C. 1
Edwn 1
Eli 1
F. 1
Horatio 1
Howard 1
Hugh 1
Hy. 1
Infant 1

FAQ

Capel surname: questions and answers

How common was the Capel surname in 1881?

In 1881, 886 people were recorded with the Capel surname. That placed it at #4,287 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Capel surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,018 in 2016. That gives Capel a modern rank of #5,725.

What does the Capel surname mean?

A place name surname typically deriving from or indicating origins near a chapel.

What does the Capel map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Capel bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.