NameCensus.

UK surname

Caplin

A surname derived from the French word "chapelain," meaning chaplain or cleric.

In the 1881 census there were 321 people recorded with the Caplin surname, ranking it #9,277 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 516, ranked #9,778, down from #9,277 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, London parishes and Woolbeding, Linch, Bepton, Farnhurst, Linchmere, Steep. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waveney, Dover and Harborough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Caplin is 601 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 60.7%.

1881 census count

321

Ranked #9,277

Modern count

516

2016, ranked #9,778

Peak year

1911

601 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Caplin had 321 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,277 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 516 in 2016, ranked #9,778.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 601 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Caplin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Caplin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Caplin 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 230 #9,368
1861 historical 191 #12,467
1881 historical 321 #9,277
1891 historical 326 #10,405
1901 historical 528 #7,740
1911 historical 601 #6,832
1997 modern 551 #8,644
1998 modern 576 #8,608
1999 modern 559 #8,872
2000 modern 547 #8,990
2001 modern 522 #9,162
2002 modern 552 #8,961
2003 modern 540 #8,967
2004 modern 540 #8,978
2005 modern 531 #9,034
2006 modern 525 #9,135
2007 modern 511 #9,422
2008 modern 511 #9,485
2009 modern 515 #9,630
2010 modern 542 #9,461
2011 modern 534 #9,493
2012 modern 520 #9,607
2013 modern 523 #9,697
2014 modern 531 #9,659
2015 modern 524 #9,678
2016 modern 516 #9,778

Geography

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Where Caplins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, London parishes, Woolbeding, Linch, Bepton, Farnhurst, Linchmere, Steep and South Bersted and Bognor. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Waveney, Dover, Harborough, Wirral and West Berkshire. 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 London parishes London 1
3 Woolbeding, Linch, Bepton, Farnhurst, Linchmere, Steep Sussex
4 London parishes London 3
5 South Bersted and Bognor Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Waveney 014 Waveney
2 Dover 011 Dover
3 Harborough 003 Harborough
4 Wirral 031 Wirral
5 West Berkshire 020 West Berkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Caplin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Caplin

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Caplin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Caplin 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Caplin 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

Caplin 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

Caplin falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Caplin 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Caplin

The surname CAPLIN is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "cæpel," which referred to a cloak or cape. This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname, given to someone who made or sold capes or cloaks.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire from 1273, where it appears as "Capelyn." This record provides evidence of the name's existence and its early spelling variations.

The CAPLIN surname is also linked to various place names in England, such as Capel in Suffolk and Capel St. Mary in Suffolk. These place names likely originated from the Old English word "cæpel," meaning a small chapel or church.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1327 as "John Capelyn." This historical record further solidifies the presence of the surname during this period.

One notable bearer of the CAPLIN surname was Sir William Caplin (1579-1654), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Horsham during the reign of King Charles I.

Another prominent figure was Thomas Caplin (1642-1708), an English clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Surrey from 1696 until his death.

In the 18th century, John Caplin (1720-1792) was a respected English engraver and cartographer known for his detailed maps and engravings.

During the 19th century, Robert Caplin (1820-1887) was a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Lastly, Edward Caplin (1896-1972) was a British military officer who served in both World Wars and received the Distinguished Service Order for his bravery and leadership.

These examples demonstrate the long-standing presence of the CAPLIN surname throughout English history, with bearers making significant contributions in various fields, from politics and religion to the arts and military.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Caplin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Caplin 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. Sussex leads with 130 Caplins recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.60x.

County Total Index
Sussex 130 23.60x
Middlesex 68 2.08x
Surrey 30 1.88x
Hampshire 24 3.58x
Channel Islands 14 14.46x
Yorkshire 10 0.31x
Kent 9 0.81x
Lancashire 8 0.21x
Warwickshire 7 0.85x
Cheshire 6 0.83x
Northamptonshire 6 1.95x
Somerset 6 1.14x
Dorset 5 2.33x
Durham 4 0.41x
Dumfriesshire 3 4.16x
Angus 2 0.66x
Berkshire 2 0.82x
Bedfordshire 1 0.59x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hammersmith London in Middlesex leads with 18 Caplins recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.36x.

Place Total Index
Hammersmith London 18 22.36x
Lambeth 16 5.62x
South Bersted 14 298.51x
Brighton 13 11.69x
Bepton 11 3666.67x
East Preston 11 2340.43x
St Thomas Winchester 10 211.42x
St Pancras London 9 3.42x
Tottenham 9 17.29x
Lurgashall 8 975.61x
St Helier 8 25.38x
Battersea 7 5.82x
Leyburn 7 642.20x
North Chapel 7 786.52x
West Derby 7 6.17x
Clifton On Dunsmore 6 895.52x
Lewes St Ann 6 319.15x
Monks Coppenhall 6 22.04x
North Ambersham 6 3157.89x
St Anne 6 346.82x
Warblington 6 225.56x
Islington London 5 1.58x
Kensington London 5 2.75x
Northampton All Sts 5 47.94x
Portland 5 43.37x
Pulborough 5 247.52x
Subdeanery 5 119.62x
Castle Eden 4 404.04x
Hampstead London 4 7.86x
Hamsey 4 645.16x
Kilmersdon 4 153.85x
Rogate 4 363.64x
Bromley London 3 4.17x
Cold Waltham 3 681.82x
Fulham London 3 6.33x
Henfield 3 141.51x
Langholm 3 57.80x
Lewisham 3 5.05x
New Shoreham 3 90.91x
Old Shoreham 3 1071.43x
Paddington London 3 2.50x
Portslade 3 89.02x
Spitalfields London 3 12.21x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 3 19.95x
Wilmington 3 192.31x
Alverstoke 2 8.25x
Barnham 2 952.38x
Bridge 2 208.33x
Broadwater 2 15.82x
Carshalton 2 32.84x
Dundee 2 1.77x
Finchley 2 15.96x
Findon 2 253.16x
Treyford 2 1250.00x
Upper Beeding 2 294.12x
Weston Super Mare 2 15.06x
Ashley 1 666.67x
Bedford St Paul 1 8.61x
Bermondsey 1 1.03x
Boxgrove 1 125.00x
Cheetham 1 3.46x
Chichester St 1 277.78x
Cholsey 1 51.55x
Ealing 1 3.42x
Epsom 1 12.89x
Erith 1 9.11x
Farnborough 1 14.22x
Glynde 1 312.50x
Hove 1 4.14x
Kingston Near Lewes 1 769.23x
Lewes St John Southover 1 27.03x
Littlehampton 1 22.73x
Millbrook 1 5.93x
Sonning 1 36.90x
St John Winchester 1 70.92x
St Luke London 1 1.91x
St Mary Kalendar 1 71.94x
Towcester 1 31.55x
Warwick St Mary 1 13.99x
Westminster St James 1 2.98x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Sarah 13
Alice 10
Eliza 10
Elizabeth 8
Ann 6
Edith 6
Emily 6
Emma 5
Jane 5
Louisa 5
Caroline 4
Charlotte 4
Ellen 4
Fanny 3
Harriet 3
Lucy 3
Margaret 3
Susan 3
Ada 2
Clara 2
Kate 2
Lilly 2
Lydia 2
Martha 2
Agnes 1
Anna 1
Annie 1
Bessie 1
Betsey 1
Daisy 1
E. 1
Elvina 1
Estar 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Hilda 1
Katherine 1
Katie 1
Laura 1
Leah 1
Lilian 1
Mabel 1
Margt 1
Maria 1
Marina 1
Naomi 1
Nellie 1
Virginie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 22
John 19
Charles 13
Frederick 11
George 11
Richard 10
Henry 9
Frank 7
Thomas 7
Ernest 6
James 6
Arthur 5
Harry 5
Alfred 4
Joseph 4
Louis 3
Stephen 3
Albert 2
Daniel 2
Edward 2
Edwin 2
Luke 2
Edgar 1
Fredrick 1
Guy 1
Harris 1
Maurice 1
Noah 1
Phillips 1
Reginald 1
Stanley 1

FAQ

Caplin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Caplin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 321 people were recorded with the Caplin surname. That placed it at #9,277 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Caplin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 516 in 2016. That gives Caplin a modern rank of #9,778.

What does the Caplin surname mean?

A surname derived from the French word "chapelain," meaning chaplain or cleric.

What does the Caplin map show?

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