NameCensus.

UK surname

Capell

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "chapel" or "chapel house."

In the 1881 census there were 448 people recorded with the Capell surname, ranking it #7,339 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 496, ranked #10,038, down from #7,339 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory and Kibworth Beauchamp. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cherwell, Oadby and Wigston and North Lincolnshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Capell is 776 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10.7%.

1881 census count

448

Ranked #7,339

Modern count

496

2016, ranked #10,038

Peak year

1911

776 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Capell had 448 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,339 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 496 in 2016, ranked #10,038.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 776 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Capell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Capell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Capell 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 421 #5,789
1861 historical 418 #6,146
1881 historical 448 #7,339
1891 historical 570 #6,671
1901 historical 642 #6,705
1911 historical 776 #5,597
1997 modern 493 #9,399
1998 modern 531 #9,164
1999 modern 531 #9,219
2000 modern 515 #9,408
2001 modern 499 #9,483
2002 modern 508 #9,525
2003 modern 483 #9,735
2004 modern 485 #9,716
2005 modern 493 #9,536
2006 modern 505 #9,415
2007 modern 508 #9,455
2008 modern 503 #9,590
2009 modern 516 #9,614
2010 modern 512 #9,870
2011 modern 492 #10,072
2012 modern 507 #9,761
2013 modern 521 #9,722
2014 modern 515 #9,872
2015 modern 502 #9,972
2016 modern 496 #10,038

Geography

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Where Capells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory, Kibworth Beauchamp, Floore and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cherwell, Oadby and Wigston, North Lincolnshire and Charnwood. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
3 Kibworth Beauchamp Leicestershire
4 Floore Northamptonshire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cherwell 005 Cherwell
2 Cherwell 002 Cherwell
3 Oadby and Wigston 006 Oadby and Wigston
4 North Lincolnshire 022 North Lincolnshire
5 Charnwood 002 Charnwood

Forenames

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First names often paired with Capell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Capell

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Capell, 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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Capell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Capell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Capell is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Capell is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Capell falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Capell 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 Capell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Capell

The surname Capell is of English origin, derived from the Old French word "chapelle," which means "chapel." It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, likely referring to someone who lived near or worked at a chapel.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century. One notable example is found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, which mentions a Walter de la Chapele in 1273. This early spelling variation highlights the name's connection to the word "chapel."

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Chapelyn, Chapelyn, and Chapeleyn, as seen in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1327. These variations further demonstrate the evolving nature of the surname's spelling over time.

The Capell surname has been prominent in various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Sussex, Kent, and Essex. Certain areas, like the village of Capel in Kent, may have influenced the surname's development and prevalence in those regions.

One notable figure bearing the Capell surname was Arthur Capell, 1st Earl of Essex (1631-1683), an English nobleman and military leader who served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and fought in the English Civil War.

Another prominent individual was Sir Henry Capell (1638-1696), an English politician and courtier who served as Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire and was a member of the Privy Council.

In the realm of literature, Edward Capell (1713-1781) was an English literary critic and editor, best known for his extensive work on the plays of William Shakespeare.

The Capell surname also has ties to the United States, with John Capell (1707-1781), an American jurist and politician who served as a judge in Delaware and as a delegate to the Continental Congress.

Lastly, Monsignor Thomas Joseph Capel (1836-1911) was an English priest and author who wrote extensively on the history and traditions of the Catholic Church.

These examples illustrate the widespread presence of the Capell surname throughout history, spanning various fields and regions, while maintaining its connection to the Old French word "chapelle" and its association with chapels or places of worship.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Capell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Capell 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. Northamptonshire leads with 139 Capells recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.74x.

County Total Index
Northamptonshire 139 33.74x
Leicestershire 48 9.88x
Warwickshire 42 3.80x
Surrey 41 1.92x
Middlesex 34 0.78x
Hertfordshire 17 5.63x
Somerset 17 2.41x
Buckinghamshire 16 6.04x
Cornwall 11 2.22x
Yorkshire 11 0.25x
Lancashire 10 0.19x
Kent 9 0.60x
Oxfordshire 9 3.33x
Staffordshire 8 0.54x
Essex 7 0.81x
Angus 5 1.23x
Monmouthshire 5 1.58x
Bedfordshire 3 1.32x
Durham 3 0.23x
Hampshire 3 0.33x
Devon 2 0.22x
Lincolnshire 2 0.29x
Sussex 2 0.27x
Derbyshire 1 0.15x
Flintshire 1 0.85x
Gloucestershire 1 0.12x
Midlothian 1 0.17x
Wiltshire 1 0.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Smeeton in Leicestershire leads with 23 Capells recorded in 1881 and an index of 3965.52x.

Place Total Index
Smeeton 23 3965.52x
Wellingborough 17 82.09x
Aston 16 5.26x
Islington London 16 3.77x
Weston Super Mare 14 78.65x
Middleton Cheney 13 726.26x
Watford 13 55.53x
Floore 12 779.22x
Nether Heyford 11 901.64x
Newington 11 6.80x
Camberwell 10 3.57x
Weedon Beck 10 338.98x
Lambeth 9 2.36x
Long Buckby 9 236.22x
Birmingham 8 2.17x
Holy Trinity 8 7.66x
Passenham 8 473.37x
Forest Gate 7 583.33x
Mowsley 7 2258.06x
Rugby 7 46.85x
Watford 7 1014.49x
Brington 6 483.87x
Chilvers Coton 6 132.16x
Great Glenn 6 465.12x
Padstow 6 181.82x
Silverstone 6 344.83x
Thornborough 6 689.66x
Walsall Borough 6 52.26x
Weybridge 6 131.00x
Dodford 5 1562.50x
Dundee 5 3.30x
Liverpool 5 1.58x
Margate St John Baptist 5 18.27x
Monmouth 5 59.52x
Northampton Priory St 5 20.23x
Northampton St Giles 5 31.87x
St Marylebone London 5 2.14x
Aldenham 4 145.45x
Astwood 4 1212.12x
Daventry 4 68.61x
Market Harborough 4 182.65x
St George Hanover Square 4 5.18x
Tonbridge 4 7.42x
Woodford 4 174.67x
Ashby St Ledgers 3 769.23x
Bedminster 3 4.53x
Croydon 3 2.53x
Enderby 3 119.52x
Hylton 3 130.43x
Kidlington 3 143.54x
Lanivet 3 194.81x
Northampton St Sepulchre 3 14.31x
Oxford St Thomas 3 23.77x
Portsea 3 1.71x
Quorndon 3 109.89x
Tingrith 3 1200.00x
West Derby 3 1.97x
West Haddon 3 223.88x
Brockhall 2 2857.14x
Chalcombe 2 298.51x
Clerkenwell London 2 1.93x
Coventry Holy Trinity 2 6.06x
Dalton In Furness 2 9.97x
Doncaster 2 6.31x
Edgbaston 2 5.84x
Leicester St Margaret 2 1.69x
Maids Moreton 2 298.51x
Northampton All Sts 2 14.31x
Paignton 2 28.82x
Spalding 2 14.39x
St Faith Under St Pauls 2 571.43x
St George Bloomsbury 2 7.96x
Woolvercot 2 181.82x
Wycombe 2 10.13x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 1 2.47x
Burntwood Edial 1 10.59x
Byfield 1 84.03x
Mylor 1 30.12x
St Issey 1 99.01x
Willesden 1 2.42x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 26
Elizabeth 15
Sarah 14
Annie 13
Ann 11
Ellen 10
Emily 9
Emma 9
Alice 6
Jane 5
Louisa 5
Anne 4
Charlotte 4
Clara 4
Martha 4
Eliza 3
Harriett 3
Ada 2
Bertha 2
Catherine 2
Elizath. 2
Hannah 2
Hilda 2
Julia 2
Maria 2
R. 2
Victoria 2
Anna 1
Beatrice 1
Bridget 1
Doratha 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Eva 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Georgina 1
Isabella 1
Janat 1
Jannie 1
Jessie 1
Jimima 1
Kate 1
Katie 1
Leonie 1
Lizzie 1
Lottie 1
Louise 1
Vida 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 29
John 26
George 21
James 19
Thomas 19
Henry 10
Harry 9
Charles 8
Edward 6
Joseph 6
Richard 6
Arthur 5
Frederick 5
Ernest 4
Frank 4
Howard 4
Robert 4
Samuel 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Francis 3
Chas. 2
David 2
Geo. 2
Reginald 2
Stephen 2
Algernon 1
Alice 1
Beng. 1
Bruce 1
Fraser 1
Fredk. 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
Mark 1
Oliver 1
Owen 1
Percie 1
R. 1
Stuart 1
Thos. 1
Thos.Henry 1
Tom 1
W. 1
Walter 1
Will. 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1
Wm.C. 1

FAQ

Capell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Capell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 448 people were recorded with the Capell surname. That placed it at #7,339 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Capell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 496 in 2016. That gives Capell a modern rank of #10,038.

What does the Capell surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "chapel" or "chapel house."

What does the Capell map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Capell 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.