NameCensus.

UK surname

Capper

A surname derived from the occupation of putting the finishing touches on garments or shoes.

In the 1881 census there were 1,583 people recorded with the Capper surname, ranking it #2,680 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,124, ranked #3,041, down from #2,680 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolstanton, Manchester and Great Budworth (Witton with Twambrook), Davenham (Leftwich). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire East, Stoke-on-Trent and High Peak.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Capper is 2,313 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.2%.

1881 census count

1,583

Ranked #2,680

Modern count

2,124

2016, ranked #3,041

Peak year

1999

2,313 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Capper had 1,583 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,680 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,124 in 2016, ranked #3,041.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,873 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Capper surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Capper surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Capper 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 905 #3,039
1861 historical 770 #3,574
1881 historical 1,583 #2,680
1891 historical 1,465 #3,004
1901 historical 1,842 #2,854
1911 historical 1,873 #2,641
1997 modern 2,054 #2,992
1998 modern 2,308 #2,798
1999 modern 2,313 #2,812
2000 modern 2,290 #2,819
2001 modern 2,228 #2,838
2002 modern 2,268 #2,848
2003 modern 2,187 #2,879
2004 modern 2,184 #2,885
2005 modern 2,141 #2,897
2006 modern 2,104 #2,949
2007 modern 2,107 #2,980
2008 modern 2,124 #2,974
2009 modern 2,190 #2,960
2010 modern 2,246 #2,955
2011 modern 2,221 #2,951
2012 modern 2,144 #2,984
2013 modern 2,151 #3,031
2014 modern 2,172 #3,015
2015 modern 2,140 #3,033
2016 modern 2,124 #3,041

Geography

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Where Cappers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolstanton, Manchester, Great Budworth (Witton with Twambrook), Davenham (Leftwich), London parishes and Coppenhall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire East, Stoke-on-Trent, High Peak and Bradford. 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 Wolstanton Staffordshire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Great Budworth (Witton with Twambrook), Davenham (Leftwich) Cheshire
4 London parishes London 2
5 Coppenhall Cheshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire East 036 Cheshire East
2 Cheshire East 039 Cheshire East
3 Stoke-on-Trent 009 Stoke-on-Trent
4 High Peak 008 High Peak
5 Bradford 013 Bradford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Capper

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Capper

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

Capper is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Capper

The surname Capper is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is an occupational name, derived from the Old English word "cappere," meaning "maker of caps or caps." The name was initially given to individuals who made or sold caps as their profession.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Capper can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire, a census-like record from 1273, where it appears as "Walter le Cappere." This suggests that the name was already in use by the 13th century.

The Capper surname is also mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296, where it is spelled as "Robert le Cappar." This variation in spelling was common during the Middle Ages due to inconsistent record-keeping practices.

In the 14th century, the surname Capper appeared in various historical records, including the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1310, where it is recorded as "William Capper." The Feet of Fines were documents that recorded land transactions.

One notable individual with the surname Capper was John Capper (c. 1490-1557), a English merchant and Member of Parliament. He was born in Oxfordshire and served as Sheriff of London in 1532.

Another prominent figure was Sir John Capper (1717-1782), a British naval officer and politician. He served as a Member of Parliament for Leominster and was also involved in the East India Company.

The surname Capper has also been associated with place names, such as Capper's Farm in Hertfordshire, which was mentioned in records from the 16th century.

Other notable individuals with the surname Capper include:

1. Samuel James Capper (1828-1892), an English painter and etcher. 2. Richard Capper (1776-1854), a British civil engineer and bridge builder. 3. Louisa Caroline Capper (1826-1892), an English writer and poet. 4. Leonard Capper (1919-2009), a British army officer and recipient of the Victoria Cross. 5. Thomas Capper (1804-1854), an English architect and surveyor.

The surname Capper has a rich history and can be traced back to medieval England, where it originated as an occupational name for cap makers. Over the centuries, individuals with this surname have made significant contributions in various fields, including politics, military, arts, and architecture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Capper families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Capper 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. Cheshire leads with 465 Cappers recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.71x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 465 13.71x
Lancashire 241 1.32x
Staffordshire 222 4.28x
Yorkshire 125 0.82x
Middlesex 95 0.62x
Gloucestershire 81 2.69x
Denbighshire 50 8.62x
Shropshire 48 3.62x
Kent 40 0.76x
Derbyshire 33 1.37x
Hampshire 28 0.89x
Warwickshire 28 0.72x
Surrey 23 0.31x
Monmouthshire 14 1.26x
Essex 11 0.36x
Worcestershire 8 0.40x
Lanarkshire 7 0.14x
Flintshire 6 1.45x
Glamorgan 5 0.19x
Midlothian 5 0.24x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.24x
Somerset 5 0.20x
Wiltshire 5 0.37x
Dorset 3 0.30x
Herefordshire 3 0.48x
Northumberland 3 0.13x
Oxfordshire 3 0.32x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.32x
Devon 2 0.06x
Royal Navy 2 1.09x
Rutland 2 1.77x
Suffolk 2 0.11x
Bedfordshire 1 0.13x
Durham 1 0.02x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 52 Cappers recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.46x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 52 9.46x
Monks Coppenhall 40 31.26x
Wolstanton 30 19.05x
Congleton 26 44.37x
Burslem 25 16.83x
Sheffield 25 5.16x
Broughton 24 105.22x
Liverpool 24 2.17x
Toxteth Park 23 3.73x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 23 76.18x
Beswick 22 47.19x
Barnton 21 259.58x
Hulme 21 5.52x
Salford 20 3.73x
Wistaston 20 934.58x
Portsea 18 2.92x
Manchester 17 2.07x
Wolstanton Chesterton 17 64.13x
Poplar London 16 5.52x
Brightside Bierlow 15 5.02x
Castle Northwich 15 133.69x
Macclesfield 15 9.95x
North Meols 15 8.41x
Biddulph 14 47.85x
Church Coppenhall 14 92.35x
Kirkdale 14 4.57x
Birkenhead 13 4.81x
Leckhampton 13 70.04x
Wolstanton Knutton 13 41.05x
Aston 12 1.12x
Hackney London 12 1.39x
Keele 12 217.79x
Everton 11 1.89x
Glossop Dale 11 9.77x
Haslington 11 115.30x
Islington London 11 0.74x
Leek Lowe 11 15.94x
Nantwich 11 27.91x
Old Withington 11 359.48x
Bethnal Green London 10 1.50x
Christchurch 10 29.10x
Denton 10 24.75x
Handley 10 694.44x
Hartford 10 130.38x
Huyton With Roby 10 46.82x
Almondbury 9 12.22x
Cheltenham 9 3.87x
Hodnet 9 86.79x
Hyde 9 8.99x
Leeds 9 1.05x
Tytherington 9 548.78x
Walsall Foreign 9 3.36x
Weston In Runcorn 9 102.16x
Wharton 9 48.73x
Anderton 8 444.44x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 8 14.51x
Gresford Gwersyllt 8 44.44x
Guiseley 8 41.03x
Heeley 8 17.29x
Holy Trinity 8 2.18x
Nether Hallam 8 3.88x
Shrewsbury St Mary 8 15.27x
St Pancras London 8 0.65x
Alverstoke 7 6.14x
Bromley London 7 2.07x
Chester St John Baptist 7 11.48x
Elton In Congleton 7 242.21x
Great Mollington 7 560.00x
Hornsey 7 3.60x
Newton By Tattenhall 7 1147.54x
Plumstead 7 4.01x
Rochester St Margaret 7 12.66x
Sandbach 7 24.20x
Sedgley 7 3.63x
Shifnal 7 19.42x
Sutton In Macclesfield 7 19.89x
Tattenhall 7 121.32x
Thingwell 7 823.53x
West Ham 7 1.05x
Wotton St Mary 7 44.79x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 122
Elizabeth 78
Sarah 77
Ann 39
Ellen 36
Annie 27
Alice 26
Eliza 25
Jane 24
Martha 24
Emma 23
Hannah 21
Margaret 16
Emily 14
Fanny 13
Ada 11
Edith 11
Harriet 11
Louisa 9
Clara 8
Agnes 7
Anne 7
Frances 7
Maria 7
Catherine 6
Florence 6
Jessie 6
Gertrude 5
Lucy 5
Eleanor 4
Lilian 4
Amy 3
Caroline 3
Charlotte 3
Elizth. 3
Esther 3
Henrietta 3
Julia 3
Kate 3
Laura 3
Matilda 3
Ruth 3
Susan 3
Amelia 2
Ethel 2
Eva 2
Horatia 2
Mabel 2
Maude 2
Minnie 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 105
George 82
William 67
Thomas 56
James 54
Charles 40
Joseph 36
Henry 25
Robert 22
Samuel 20
Arthur 15
Alfred 13
Richard 13
Albert 12
Edward 12
Frederick 11
Walter 11
Harry 8
Thos. 8
Herbert 7
Peter 7
Benjamin 6
Daniel 6
David 5
Edwin 5
Ralph 5
Fred 4
Jasper 4
Frank 3
Geo. 3
Isaac 3
Phillip 3
Saml. 3
Andrew 2
Christopher 2
Edmund 2
Francis 2
Jabez 2
Levi 2
Malcolm 2
Mark 2
Paul 2
Percy 2
Wm. 2
Chas. 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Georg 1
Jonathon 1
Wm.Smalwood 1

FAQ

Capper surname: questions and answers

How common was the Capper surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,583 people were recorded with the Capper surname. That placed it at #2,680 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Capper surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,124 in 2016. That gives Capper a modern rank of #3,041.

What does the Capper surname mean?

A surname derived from the occupation of putting the finishing touches on garments or shoes.

What does the Capper map show?

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