NameCensus.

UK surname

Capes

A topographic name for someone from a location marked by a cape or headland.

In the 1881 census there were 639 people recorded with the Capes surname, ranking it #5,569 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 695, ranked #7,750, down from #5,569 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, London parishes and Blyborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North East Lincolnshire and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Capes is 766 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 8.8%.

1881 census count

639

Ranked #5,569

Modern count

695

2016, ranked #7,750

Peak year

1998

766 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Capes had 639 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,569 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 695 in 2016, ranked #7,750.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 743 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Capes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Capes surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Capes 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 453 #5,441
1861 historical 391 #6,549
1881 historical 639 #5,569
1891 historical 594 #6,436
1901 historical 653 #6,621
1911 historical 743 #5,776
1997 modern 741 #6,944
1998 modern 766 #6,992
1999 modern 765 #7,031
2000 modern 748 #7,113
2001 modern 740 #7,055
2002 modern 759 #7,045
2003 modern 738 #7,097
2004 modern 721 #7,224
2005 modern 707 #7,271
2006 modern 713 #7,254
2007 modern 697 #7,441
2008 modern 696 #7,521
2009 modern 710 #7,556
2010 modern 725 #7,579
2011 modern 710 #7,615
2012 modern 703 #7,580
2013 modern 707 #7,673
2014 modern 717 #7,635
2015 modern 694 #7,769
2016 modern 695 #7,750

Geography

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Where Capes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, London parishes, Blyborough and Grimsby, Great. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North East Lincolnshire and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
2 London parishes London 3
3 Blyborough Lincolnshire
4 London parishes London 2
5 Grimsby, Great Lincolnshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North East Lincolnshire 005 North East Lincolnshire
2 North East Lincolnshire 010 North East Lincolnshire
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 033 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 North East Lincolnshire 002 North East Lincolnshire
5 North East Lincolnshire 022 North East Lincolnshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Capes

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Capes

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Capes 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

Capes is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Capes falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Capes is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Capes

The surname Capes originated from England in the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "cape," meaning a cloak or cape worn as an outer garment. People may have acquired this surname as an occupational name for someone who made or sold capes.

Capes is found in records as early as the 13th century. One of the earliest known bearers was Geoffrey Capes, recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire in 1273. The Hundred Rolls were administrative records maintained by the English government at that time.

In the 14th century, there are mentions of people with the surname Capes in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire. For instance, Robert Capes was listed as a tenant in these records from 1317.

The Capes surname is also found in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a John Capes is recorded as a taxpayer. These tax records provide valuable insights into the distribution of surnames across different regions during that period.

William Capes, born in 1649 in Cambridgeshire, was an English clergyman and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1717 to 1718. He published several works on theology and philosophy during his lifetime.

Another notable bearer of the name was Sir Walter Capes (1834-1892), a British soldier and administrator who served as the Governor of the Windward Islands from 1883 to 1888. He played a significant role in the development of the British West Indies during the late 19th century.

In the literary world, Bernard Capes (1854-1918) was an English novelist and playwright. He authored several popular works of fiction, including the novel "The Extraordinary Confessions of Diana Please" (1896).

Richard Capes (1880-1936) was a British journalist and author known for his works on travel and adventure. He documented his experiences in various parts of the world, including his book "Siamese Memoirs" (1928), which recounted his time in Siam (now Thailand).

Lastly, John Moore Capes (1857-1923) was a British architect and designer. He is particularly renowned for his work on the Royal Pavilion in Brighton, where he served as the Clerk of Works during its extensive restoration in the late 19th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Capes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Capes 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. Lincolnshire leads with 168 Capes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.86x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 168 16.86x
Yorkshire 151 2.44x
Middlesex 73 1.17x
Norfolk 65 6.78x
Surrey 47 1.55x
Staffordshire 21 1.00x
Lancashire 19 0.26x
Essex 13 1.06x
Cheshire 10 0.73x
Nottinghamshire 10 1.19x
Cambridgeshire 8 2.03x
Berkshire 6 1.28x
Cumberland 6 1.12x
Derbyshire 6 0.61x
Oxfordshire 5 1.30x
Kent 4 0.19x
Durham 3 0.16x
Hampshire 3 0.23x
Northamptonshire 3 0.51x
Northumberland 3 0.32x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.53x
Somerset 2 0.20x
Sussex 2 0.19x
Warwickshire 2 0.13x
Ayrshire 1 0.21x
Devon 1 0.08x
Gloucestershire 1 0.08x
Kincardineshire 1 1.32x
Lanarkshire 1 0.05x
Midlothian 1 0.12x
Monmouthshire 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Holy Trinity in Yorkshire leads with 49 Capes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.98x.

Place Total Index
Holy Trinity 49 32.98x
Sculcoates 28 28.59x
Blyborough 22 4150.94x
Great Grimsby 20 31.62x
Clee With Weelsby 19 87.08x
Burton Upon Trent 16 32.50x
Bethnal Green London 13 4.80x
Clapham 12 15.40x
West Ham 12 4.42x
Heigham 11 21.38x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 10 47.33x
Marsh Chapel 10 813.01x
Shoreditch London 9 3.33x
Southcoates 9 26.25x
Cottingham 8 60.11x
Holbeach 8 72.07x
Pinchbeck 8 125.20x
Battersea 7 3.05x
Haveringland 7 2800.00x
Laughton In Gainsborough 7 1111.11x
Limehouse London 7 10.23x
Owthorne 7 603.45x
Poplar London 7 5.95x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 5.58x
Toftrees 7 5000.00x
Chesterton 6 49.30x
Crosscanonby 6 33.80x
Holton Le Clay 6 983.61x
Horsford 6 402.68x
Kensington London 6 1.73x
Penge 6 15.07x
Selby 6 46.48x
St Maryle Wigford 6 77.52x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 6 20.91x
Toxteth Park 6 2.40x
Winnington 6 394.74x
Aiskew 5 282.49x
Burton Extra 5 41.46x
Caistor 5 125.94x
Enstone 5 211.86x
Epworth 5 107.53x
Islington London 5 0.83x
Louth 5 21.89x
Mansfield 5 17.20x
Mile End Old Town London 5 3.77x
Snitterby 5 847.46x
Sutterton 5 252.53x
Utterby 5 847.46x
Birkenhead 4 3.65x
Little Plumstead 4 571.43x
Melbourne 4 59.97x
Nottingham St Mary 4 1.84x
Wantage 4 53.62x
Attleborough 3 61.98x
Camberwell 3 0.75x
Castle Acre 3 105.26x
Chertsey 3 15.28x
Clayton Le Moors 3 20.91x
Fulstow 3 252.10x
Hackney London 3 0.86x
Kexby 3 434.78x
Knaith Lea Gate Burton 3 379.75x
Lambeth 3 0.55x
Leeds 3 0.86x
Nether Hallam 3 3.59x
Newcastle On Tyne St 3 6.24x
Newton St Faith 3 416.67x
Norwich St Andrew 3 182.93x
St George Hanover Square 3 2.73x
St Nicholas Lincoln 3 31.48x
St Pancras London 3 0.60x
Sutton 3 42.61x
Waltham 3 188.68x
Winfarthing 3 232.56x
Derby St Werburgh 2 3.55x
Edmonton 2 3.98x
Eltham 2 16.05x
Hindringham 2 158.73x
Norwich St James 2 26.60x
Tottenham 2 2.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 38
William 37
George 32
Thomas 23
Charles 20
Henry 13
Joseph 11
James 9
Edward 8
Robert 8
Alfred 7
Walter 7
Arthur 5
Edwin 5
Frederick 5
Herbert 4
David 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Gabriel 2
Harry 2
Matthew 2
Robt. 2
Saml. 2
Wm. 2
Aurthur 1
Benjamin 1
Dempster 1
Ebeneza 1
Elijah 1
Fredk. 1
G. 1
Gamaliel 1
Geo.A. 1
Gerald 1
Gilbert 1
Hoorse 1
Jabez 1
Jack 1
Jno. 1
Jno.W. 1
Joe 1
Johnson 1
Leonard 1
Mathew 1
Milbyam 1
Monday 1
Peter 1
R. 1
Reuben 1

FAQ

Capes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Capes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 639 people were recorded with the Capes surname. That placed it at #5,569 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Capes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 695 in 2016. That gives Capes a modern rank of #7,750.

What does the Capes surname mean?

A topographic name for someone from a location marked by a cape or headland.

What does the Capes map show?

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