NameCensus.

UK surname

Caplen

In the 1881 census there were 89 people recorded with the Caplen surname, ranking it #21,091 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 142, ranked #24,625, down from #21,091 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, Lurgasall and South Stoneham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Dorset, Southampton and North Dorset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Caplen is 158 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 59.6%.

1881 census count

89

Ranked #21,091

Modern count

142

2016, ranked #24,625

Peak year

2010

158 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Caplen had 89 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,091 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 142 in 2016, ranked #24,625.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 129 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Caplen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Caplen surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Caplen 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 63 #22,069
1861 historical 86 #22,810
1881 historical 89 #21,091
1891 historical 120 #21,292
1901 historical 114 #21,166
1911 historical 129 #19,577
1997 modern 145 #21,571
1998 modern 147 #21,935
1999 modern 154 #21,455
2000 modern 146 #22,170
2001 modern 141 #22,344
2002 modern 146 #22,302
2003 modern 134 #23,260
2004 modern 147 #22,094
2005 modern 144 #22,367
2006 modern 147 #22,221
2007 modern 151 #22,120
2008 modern 149 #22,530
2009 modern 151 #22,816
2010 modern 158 #22,692
2011 modern 158 #22,473
2012 modern 137 #24,731
2013 modern 140 #24,779
2014 modern 146 #24,274
2015 modern 146 #24,148
2016 modern 142 #24,625

Geography

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Where Caplens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, Lurgasall, South Stoneham, Southampton St Mary and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Dorset, Southampton and North Dorset. 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 Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst Sussex
2 Lurgasall Sussex
3 South Stoneham Hampshire
4 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Dorset 003 West Dorset
2 Southampton 005 Southampton
3 North Dorset 004 North Dorset
4 Southampton 022 Southampton
5 West Dorset 007 West Dorset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Caplen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Caplen

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Caplen, 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 Caplen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Caplen 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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Caplen 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

Caplen 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

Caplen 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 Caplen 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 - British

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

1881 census detail

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Caplen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Caplen 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. Hampshire leads with 34 Caplens recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.11x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 34 19.11x
Sussex 26 17.77x
Middlesex 19 2.19x
Surrey 4 0.95x
Kent 3 1.01x
Somerset 2 1.43x
Monmouthshire 1 1.59x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Southampton St Mary in Hampshire leads with 16 Caplens recorded in 1881 and an index of 142.98x.

Place Total Index
Southampton St Mary 16 142.98x
Findon 13 6190.48x
Hackney London 8 16.44x
Petersfield 8 1632.65x
Brighton 6 20.33x
South Stoneham 6 155.44x
Bethnal Green London 4 10.61x
Croydon 4 17.04x
Isleworth 3 77.72x
Lurgashall 3 1363.64x
Speldhurst 3 198.68x
Carisbrooke 2 80.97x
Kilmersdon 2 289.86x
Limehouse London 2 20.99x
Worthing 2 1250.00x
Havant 1 111.11x
Hornsey 1 9.11x
Lindfield 1 161.29x
Midhurst 1 208.33x
Monmouth 1 60.24x
Southampton All Sts 1 32.79x
St Marylebone London 1 2.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 8
William 7
Charles 4
George 3
Henry 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Caleb 2
Cornelius 2
David 2
Thomas 2
Arthur 1
Cecil 1
Edwar 1
Frederick 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Caplen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Caplen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 89 people were recorded with the Caplen surname. That placed it at #21,091 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Caplen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 142 in 2016. That gives Caplen a modern rank of #24,625.

What does the Caplen map show?

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