NameCensus.

UK surname

Capstick

A surname referring to a maker or seller of caps or hats.

In the 1881 census there were 881 people recorded with the Capstick surname, ranking it #4,306 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,264, ranked #4,730, down from #4,306 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sedbergh, Lancaster Borough and Preston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Eden, South Lakeland and Craven.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Capstick is 1,398 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 43.5%.

1881 census count

881

Ranked #4,306

Modern count

1,264

2016, ranked #4,730

Peak year

2000

1,398 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Capstick had 881 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,306 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,264 in 2016, ranked #4,730.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,226 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Capstick surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Capstick surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Capstick 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 507 #4,933
1861 historical 566 #4,646
1881 historical 881 #4,306
1891 historical 982 #4,208
1901 historical 1,182 #4,145
1911 historical 1,226 #3,852
1997 modern 1,304 #4,390
1998 modern 1,350 #4,408
1999 modern 1,377 #4,363
2000 modern 1,398 #4,285
2001 modern 1,312 #4,452
2002 modern 1,325 #4,495
2003 modern 1,295 #4,503
2004 modern 1,337 #4,391
2005 modern 1,287 #4,471
2006 modern 1,254 #4,591
2007 modern 1,246 #4,665
2008 modern 1,239 #4,724
2009 modern 1,261 #4,746
2010 modern 1,275 #4,793
2011 modern 1,254 #4,801
2012 modern 1,229 #4,818
2013 modern 1,277 #4,731
2014 modern 1,270 #4,786
2015 modern 1,279 #4,704
2016 modern 1,264 #4,730

Geography

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Where Capsticks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sedbergh, Lancaster Borough, Preston, Bradford and Kendal. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Eden, South Lakeland and Craven. 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 Sedbergh Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Lancaster Borough Lancashire
3 Preston Lancashire
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Kendal Westmorland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Eden 007 Eden
2 South Lakeland 009 South Lakeland
3 Craven 003 Craven
4 South Lakeland 005 South Lakeland
5 Craven 001 Craven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Capstick

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Capstick

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Capstick surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Capstick household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Capstick 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

Capstick is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Capstick

The surname Capstick is of English origin, emerging in the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational surname, derived from a place name referring to a habitation near a capped or peaked hill or promontory. The prefix "cap" comes from the Old English word "caeppe," meaning a cape, headland, or promontory.

The earliest recorded instances of the Capstick surname can be traced back to the 13th century in the county of Lancashire, England. One of the earliest documented examples is that of Roger de Capstick, who was listed in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire in 1246. This suggests the name may have originated from a now-lost place name in that region.

In the 14th century, the Capstick surname appears in various records, such as the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, where a Thomas Capstick is mentioned. This indicates the surname had spread to other parts of northern England by that time.

The Capstick name is notably associated with the village of Clapham in Yorkshire, where it is believed to have derived from the Old English place name "Clapham," meaning "the homestead or village near the peaked hill." This connection is evidenced by the appearance of individuals like John Capstick of Clapham, who was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1524.

Renowned individuals with the Capstick surname include Sir John Capstick (1628-1701), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1686. Another notable figure is Richard Capstick (1756-1823), a British naval officer who played a significant role in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

Other historical figures bearing the Capstick name include William Capstick (1805-1875), a prominent Anglican clergyman and author, and Samuel Capstick (1828-1892), a British architect known for designing several notable buildings in Liverpool and Manchester.

Lastly, Peter Hathaway Capstick (1940-1996) was a renowned American hunter, writer, and conservationist, best known for his books on big-game hunting and wildlife conservation in Africa.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Capstick families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Capstick 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. Lancashire leads with 370 Capsticks recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.62x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 370 3.62x
Yorkshire 262 3.07x
Westmorland 157 83.03x
Middlesex 26 0.30x
Cheshire 15 0.79x
Derbyshire 10 0.74x
Kirkcudbrightshire 9 7.23x
Ayrshire 8 1.24x
Hertfordshire 7 1.18x
Durham 6 0.23x
Lanarkshire 3 0.11x
Surrey 2 0.05x
Warwickshire 2 0.09x
Cumberland 1 0.14x
Gloucestershire 1 0.06x
Northumberland 1 0.08x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.09x
Royal Navy 1 0.98x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dent in Yorkshire leads with 52 Capsticks recorded in 1881 and an index of 1460.67x.

Place Total Index
Dent 52 1460.67x
Kendal 52 150.25x
Habergham Eaves 46 49.29x
Horton In Bradford 32 24.03x
Sedbergh 29 923.57x
Lancaster 26 42.80x
Preston 25 9.15x
Everton 22 6.76x
Sedburgh 21 591.55x
West Derby 21 7.03x
Applethwaite 20 354.61x
Toxteth Park 19 5.50x
Colne 13 42.75x
Orton 13 230.09x
Caton 11 343.75x
Manchester 11 2.40x
Mottram 11 127.91x
Ulverston 11 36.99x
Barrow In Furness 10 7.20x
Bradford 10 4.85x
Carnforth 10 178.25x
Great Musgrave 10 1851.85x
St Pancras London 10 1.44x
Dalton In Furness 9 22.84x
Higham With West Close 9 407.24x
Horton In Ribblesdale 9 576.92x
Chorlton On Medlock 8 4.93x
Dillicar 8 2222.22x
Hampstead London 8 5.97x
Islington London 8 0.96x
Lawkland 8 898.88x
Ingleton 7 145.83x
Kirkland 7 173.70x
New Cumnock 7 62.72x
Twynholm 7 350.00x
Aldenham 6 111.11x
Appleby St Michael 6 141.18x
Clapham Cum Newby 6 301.51x
Cliviger 6 104.35x
Hartley 6 1363.64x
Hayfield 6 72.64x
Ravenstonedale 6 227.27x
Reddish 6 42.67x
Burton Cum Walden 5 381.68x
Dilworth 5 79.87x
Gargrave 5 131.58x
Haslingden 5 11.83x
Kirkdale 5 2.91x
Leeds 5 1.04x
Manningham 5 4.76x
Ripley 5 543.48x
Shap 5 119.90x
Skerton 5 59.67x
South Shields 5 21.93x
Southcoates 5 10.56x
Stretford 5 8.90x
Tatham 5 318.47x
Thornton In Lonsdale 5 531.91x
Wakefield 5 7.64x
Whittington 5 490.20x
Austwick 4 287.77x
Burnley 4 4.65x
Castleton 4 3.92x
Crosthwaite Lyth 4 176.21x
Garsdale 4 225.99x
Halifax 4 3.20x
Hawkshead Monk Coniston 4 112.36x
Hindley 4 9.19x
Idle 4 10.12x
Langcliffe 4 196.08x
Lower Booths 4 21.87x
Salford 4 1.33x
Soothill 4 12.99x
Burrow With Burrow 3 476.19x
Crosby Garrett 3 454.55x
Great Bolton 3 2.22x
Horsforth 3 16.05x
Liverpool 3 0.48x
Livesey 3 16.74x
Wray With Botton 3 162.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 65
Elizabeth 42
Margaret 31
Sarah 28
Jane 26
Alice 20
Ann 20
Agnes 14
Ellen 12
Hannah 10
Isabella 10
Annie 8
Catherine 8
Martha 7
Betsy 6
Emma 6
Rebecca 6
Clara 5
Eleanor 5
Ada 4
Dorothy 4
Grace 4
Nancy 4
Barbara 3
Betty 3
Eliza 3
Fanny 3
Florence 3
Bertha 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Dinah 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Eva 2
Janet 2
Kate 2
Laura 2
Maria 2
Matilda 2
Ruth 2
Selina 2
Susannah 2
Celina 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth. 1
Elsie 1
Emily 1
Jessie 1
Keaziah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 67
Thomas 57
William 46
James 34
George 30
Edward 24
Robert 24
Joseph 14
Richard 12
Henry 7
Walter 6
Albert 5
Anthony 5
Arthur 5
Miles 5
Wm. 5
Edmund 4
Richd. 4
Samuel 4
Thos. 4
Charles 3
Francis 3
Fredk. 3
Geo. 3
Harry 3
Robt. 3
Alexander 2
Alfred 2
Felix 2
Fred 2
Frederick 2
Herbert 2
Roger 2
Campbell 1
Dennison 1
Earnest 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Geo.W. 1
Harold 1
Hy. 1
Irvin 1
Isaac 1
Joshua 1
Nicholas 1
Norman 1
Octayus 1
Percy 1
Peter 1

FAQ

Capstick surname: questions and answers

How common was the Capstick surname in 1881?

In 1881, 881 people were recorded with the Capstick surname. That placed it at #4,306 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Capstick surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,264 in 2016. That gives Capstick a modern rank of #4,730.

What does the Capstick surname mean?

A surname referring to a maker or seller of caps or hats.

What does the Capstick map show?

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