NameCensus.

UK surname

Capon

An English surname derived from the French word meaning a castrated rooster.

In the 1881 census there were 1,206 people recorded with the Capon surname, ranking it #3,343 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,477, ranked #4,169, down from #3,343 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dorking, London parishes and Easton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Huntingdonshire, Arun and Central Bedfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Capon is 1,720 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.5%.

1881 census count

1,206

Ranked #3,343

Modern count

1,477

2016, ranked #4,169

Peak year

1998

1,720 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Capon had 1,206 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,343 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,477 in 2016, ranked #4,169.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,680 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Capon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Capon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Capon 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 678 #3,834
1861 historical 662 #4,050
1881 historical 1,206 #3,343
1891 historical 1,317 #3,297
1901 historical 1,542 #3,341
1911 historical 1,680 #2,913
1997 modern 1,643 #3,613
1998 modern 1,720 #3,602
1999 modern 1,701 #3,658
2000 modern 1,687 #3,665
2001 modern 1,624 #3,721
2002 modern 1,629 #3,780
2003 modern 1,605 #3,754
2004 modern 1,555 #3,874
2005 modern 1,511 #3,938
2006 modern 1,505 #3,954
2007 modern 1,503 #3,993
2008 modern 1,516 #3,985
2009 modern 1,521 #4,070
2010 modern 1,534 #4,126
2011 modern 1,539 #4,057
2012 modern 1,503 #4,080
2013 modern 1,532 #4,079
2014 modern 1,522 #4,130
2015 modern 1,480 #4,184
2016 modern 1,477 #4,169

Geography

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Where Capons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dorking, London parishes, Easton and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Huntingdonshire, Arun, Central Bedfordshire, Fareham and Tonbridge and Malling. 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 Dorking Surrey
2 London parishes London 1
3 Easton Suffolk
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Huntingdonshire 002 Huntingdonshire
2 Arun 007 Arun
3 Central Bedfordshire 004 Central Bedfordshire
4 Fareham 002 Fareham
5 Tonbridge and Malling 006 Tonbridge and Malling

Forenames

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First names often paired with Capon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Capon

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Capon is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Capon 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

Capon 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 Capon 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 Capon, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Capon

The surname CAPON originated in England during the late 12th century. It derived from the Old French word "capon," which referred to a castrated rooster or cockerel. This occupational surname was likely given to someone who raised or sold capons.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the CAPON surname dates back to 1273 in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, where a William Capon was mentioned. In the 13th century, the name was also found in various forms such as Capoun, Capun, and Capyn.

The CAPON surname appeared in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror. This early record suggests that the name had already been established in England before the Norman Conquest.

In the 14th century, the CAPON surname was found in various parts of England, including Suffolk, Norfolk, and Essex. The Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk from 1327 listed a John Capoun, and the Feet of Fines for Essex from 1381 mentioned a Thomas Capoun.

One notable bearer of the CAPON surname was Sir William Capon (c. 1498-1570), an English churchman who served as the Dean of Canterbury Cathedral from 1537 until his death. Another prominent figure was John Capon (c. 1429-1486), who was the Abbot of St. Benet's Abbey in Norfolk.

Other early examples include Robert Capon, who was recorded in the Curia Regis Rolls of Middlesex in 1205, and Richard Capon, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1280.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the CAPON surname was also found in various spellings, such as Capyn, Capyn, and Cappyn, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Capon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Capon 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. Kent leads with 273 Capons recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.82x.

County Total Index
Kent 273 6.82x
Suffolk 243 17.00x
Middlesex 223 1.90x
Surrey 127 2.22x
Bedfordshire 62 10.20x
Sussex 51 2.58x
Essex 47 2.03x
Norfolk 34 1.88x
Lancashire 29 0.21x
Hampshire 16 0.67x
Yorkshire 15 0.13x
Gloucestershire 14 0.61x
Hertfordshire 13 1.61x
Northumberland 8 0.46x
Derbyshire 6 0.33x
Worcestershire 6 0.39x
Lincolnshire 5 0.27x
Leicestershire 4 0.31x
Staffordshire 4 0.10x
Brecknockshire 3 1.28x
Caernarfonshire 3 0.63x
Northamptonshire 3 0.27x
Westmorland 3 1.16x
Channel Islands 2 0.58x
Cheshire 2 0.08x
Banffshire 1 0.41x
Berkshire 1 0.11x
Flintshire 1 0.32x
Merionethshire 1 0.47x
Midlothian 1 0.06x
Royal Navy 1 0.72x
Somerset 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Easton in Suffolk leads with 35 Capons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2034.88x.

Place Total Index
Easton 35 2034.88x
Islington London 32 2.81x
Maidstone 31 25.99x
Lambeth 23 2.25x
Camberwell 22 2.93x
Langford 20 400.80x
St George In East London 19 17.21x
Framlingham 18 177.34x
Bromley London 17 6.58x
Henlow 17 453.33x
St Pancras London 17 1.80x
Hythe St Leonard 15 106.01x
West Malling 15 166.48x
Greenwich 14 7.49x
Ipswich St Clement 14 38.54x
Newdigate 14 524.34x
Otford 14 250.45x
Dennington 13 410.09x
Dorking 13 33.86x
Hackney London 13 1.98x
Kensington London 13 1.99x
St Marylebone London 13 2.07x
Snodland 12 105.73x
Bedford St Mary 11 70.29x
Lee 11 18.92x
Sculcoates 11 5.97x
Toxteth Park 11 2.33x
Brighton 10 2.51x
Deptford St Paul 10 3.24x
Orpington 10 81.57x
St Andrew Holborn London 10 19.68x
Birling 9 253.52x
Clerkenwell London 9 3.25x
Hornsey 9 6.06x
Hove 9 10.37x
Paddington London 9 2.09x
Stock 9 364.37x
Woolwich 9 6.08x
Cheltenham 8 4.51x
Digswell 8 879.12x
Eastbourne 8 8.79x
Edmonton 8 8.46x
Fressingfield 8 173.54x
Great Yarmouth 8 5.35x
Horton Kirby 8 129.24x
Lewisham 8 3.75x
Liverpool 8 0.95x
Manningtree 8 212.20x
Rochester St Margaret 8 18.95x
Southwark St George Martyr 8 3.39x
Strood 8 35.03x
Swanscombe 8 44.47x
Tooting Graveney 8 50.28x
Bethnal Green London 7 1.37x
Bromley 7 11.47x
Horsham 7 18.21x
Kirkley 7 58.53x
Occold 7 331.75x
Palgrave 7 233.33x
Portsea 7 1.48x
Rusper 7 324.07x
St Giles In Fields London 7 12.16x
St Olave Hart Street 7 686.27x
Stansted 7 426.83x
Stowmarket 7 42.37x
Upper Holker 7 213.41x
Bedford St Paul 6 14.40x
Betchworth 6 85.11x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 6 2.77x
Dartford 6 14.66x
Debenham 6 126.58x
Ditton 6 444.44x
Kessingland 6 121.46x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 6 5.75x
Northfleet 6 17.01x
Pentrich 6 58.03x
Ryarsh 6 270.27x
Walton 6 117.19x
Wetheringsett Cum 6 144.58x
Wilby 6 319.15x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 55
John 54
George 42
James 34
Henry 30
Thomas 29
Charles 28
Edward 22
Walter 20
Alfred 19
Arthur 19
Frederick 17
Robert 16
Samuel 14
Harry 11
Joseph 11
Albert 10
Herbert 10
Ernest 8
Philip 7
Stephen 6
Francis 5
Edwin 4
Fred 4
Frederic 4
Fredk. 4
Fredrick 4
Thos. 4
Daniel 3
Frank 3
Matthew 3
Percy 3
Wm. 3
Benjamin 2
Charlie 2
Chas. 2
Clement 2
Curtis 2
Jas. 2
Jeptha 2
Jesse 2
Leonard 2
Phillip 2
Sidney 2
Tom 2
Willie 2
Chas.H. 1
Christopher 1
Freddy. 1
Wm.Fredk. 1

FAQ

Capon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Capon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,206 people were recorded with the Capon surname. That placed it at #3,343 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Capon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,477 in 2016. That gives Capon a modern rank of #4,169.

What does the Capon surname mean?

An English surname derived from the French word meaning a castrated rooster.

What does the Capon map show?

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