NameCensus.

UK surname

Caplan

A Jewish occupational surname derived from the Yiddish word "kaplan," meaning "chaplain" or "priest."

In the 1881 census there were 10 people recorded with the Caplan surname, ranking it #32,243 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 640, ranked #8,269, up from #32,243 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Govan Combination and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bury, Hertsmere and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Caplan is 653 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6300.0%.

1881 census count

10

Ranked #32,243

Modern count

640

2016, ranked #8,269

Peak year

1998

653 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Caplan had 10 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,243 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 640 in 2016, ranked #8,269.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 554 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Caplan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Caplan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Caplan 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 3 #32,890
1861 historical 17 #31,714
1881 historical 10 #32,243
1891 historical 81 #26,632
1901 historical 373 #9,948
1911 historical 554 #7,244
1997 modern 644 #7,714
1998 modern 653 #7,879
1999 modern 633 #8,132
2000 modern 631 #8,125
2001 modern 600 #8,299
2002 modern 609 #8,368
2003 modern 588 #8,455
2004 modern 590 #8,453
2005 modern 596 #8,313
2006 modern 598 #8,302
2007 modern 603 #8,319
2008 modern 598 #8,437
2009 modern 593 #8,672
2010 modern 619 #8,580
2011 modern 605 #8,639
2012 modern 621 #8,359
2013 modern 651 #8,213
2014 modern 644 #8,324
2015 modern 645 #8,249
2016 modern 640 #8,269

Geography

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Where Caplans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Govan Combination, Manchester, Liverpool and West Derby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bury, Hertsmere, Leeds and Camden. 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 1
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 West Derby Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bury 019 Bury
2 Bury 026 Bury
3 Hertsmere 005 Hertsmere
4 Leeds 012 Leeds
5 Camden 016 Camden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Caplan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Caplan

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

Outer Suburbs

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Caplan is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Caplan is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Caplan 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 Caplan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Caplan

The surname Caplan has its origins in the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe, particularly in Russia and Ukraine. It is believed to have derived from the Yiddish word "kaplan," which means "chaplain" or "rabbi's assistant." This suggests that the name was likely first adopted by individuals who served in synagogues or had religious roles within their communities.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Caplan can be traced back to the late 18th century and early 19th century in various census records and official documents from the Russian Empire. During this period, many Jewish families were required to adopt surnames, and Caplan became a popular choice.

One notable historical reference to the name Caplan is found in the memoirs of Nikolai Gogol, the famous Russian writer. In his work "Dead Souls," Gogol mentions a character named Caplan, suggesting that the name was already well-established in Russia by the early 19th century.

As the Jewish population of Eastern Europe migrated westward, the name Caplan spread across Europe and eventually to other parts of the world. Some variations of the spelling include Kaplin, Kaplan, and Caplain, reflecting the diverse linguistic and cultural influences encountered during this migration.

Among the notable individuals with the surname Caplan throughout history are:

1. Abraham Isaac Caplan (1853-1915), a Russian-born American rabbi and scholar who served as the Chief Rabbi of Montreal. 2. Harry Caplan (1896-1979), an American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the Caplan Corporation, a successful retail chain. 3. Lionel Caplan (1914-2009), a South African-born British actor and playwright known for his roles in films such as "The Ipcress File" and "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold." 4. David Caplan (born 1965), a Canadian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and held various cabinet positions. 5. Ralph Caplan (1915-2019), an American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the Caplan Corporation with his brother Harry.

While the surname Caplan has its roots in Eastern Europe, it has since become widely dispersed worldwide, with notable bearers contributing to various fields, including religion, business, entertainment, and politics.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Caplan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Caplan 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 5 Caplans recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.14x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 5 5.14x
Dunbartonshire 2 76.63x
Cheshire 1 4.66x
Kent 1 3.01x
Renfrewshire 1 13.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ratcliffe London in Middlesex leads with 3 Caplans recorded in 1881 and an index of 555.56x.

Place Total Index
Ratcliffe London 3 555.56x
Hackney London 2 36.70x
Row 2 588.24x
Birkenhead 1 58.48x
West Greenock 1 74.07x
Woolwich 1 81.30x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
Fanny 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 1
Herman 1
James 1
William 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Caplan households.

FAQ

Caplan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Caplan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 10 people were recorded with the Caplan surname. That placed it at #32,243 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Caplan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 640 in 2016. That gives Caplan a modern rank of #8,269.

What does the Caplan surname mean?

A Jewish occupational surname derived from the Yiddish word "kaplan," meaning "chaplain" or "priest."

What does the Caplan map show?

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