UK surname
An English topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a chapel or church.
In the 1881 census there were 391 people recorded with the Chapel surname, ranking it #8,090 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 82, ranked #32,895, down from #8,090 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Arbroath and St. Vigeans, London parishes and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chapel is 629 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 79.0%.
1881 census count
391
Ranked #8,090
Modern count
82
2016, ranked #32,895
Peak year
1851
629 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Chapel surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Chapel surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 629 | #4,129 |
| 1861 | historical | 590 | #4,480 |
| 1881 | historical | 391 | #8,090 |
| 1891 | historical | 279 | #11,698 |
| 1901 | historical | 224 | #14,091 |
| 1911 | historical | 90 | #23,797 |
| 1997 | modern | 66 | #31,038 |
| 1998 | modern | 66 | #31,387 |
| 1999 | modern | 74 | #30,759 |
| 2000 | modern | 56 | #32,514 |
| 2001 | modern | 57 | #32,275 |
| 2002 | modern | 61 | #32,286 |
| 2003 | modern | 65 | #31,979 |
| 2004 | modern | 67 | #31,976 |
| 2005 | modern | 66 | #32,303 |
| 2006 | modern | 78 | #31,385 |
| 2007 | modern | 77 | #31,856 |
| 2008 | modern | 81 | #31,713 |
| 2009 | modern | 91 | #30,944 |
| 2010 | modern | 88 | #31,875 |
| 2011 | modern | 85 | #32,127 |
| 2012 | modern | 75 | #33,263 |
| 2013 | modern | 76 | #33,329 |
| 2014 | modern | 77 | #33,336 |
| 2015 | modern | 78 | #33,210 |
| 2016 | modern | 82 | #32,895 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Arbroath and St. Vigeans, London parishes, Edinburgh, Lambeth 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 No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arbroath and St. Vigeans | Forfar |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | St John Hackney | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Chapel surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Chapel, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Chapel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Chapel household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Chapel is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Chapel is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Chapel, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Chapel originated in England during the Anglo-Norman period. It is derived from the Old French word "chapel", which itself stems from the Late Latin "cappella", meaning a cloak or cape. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a small chapel or church.
In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landowners in England after the Norman Conquest, there are several references to places with the word "chapel" in their names, such as Chapel-en-le-Frith in Derbyshire. This suggests that the surname was already in use by this time.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Chapel can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a William de Capella is mentioned. The "de" prefix indicates he was from a place called Chapel or Capella.
In the 13th century, a Walter de la Chapele is recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1273. This spelling variation demonstrates the evolution of the name over time.
Sir John Chapel (c. 1380-1462) was a notable figure who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1443. He was a wealthy merchant and landowner.
Another early bearer of the name was William Chapel (c. 1490-1549), who was appointed as the Bishop of Carlisle in 1537 by King Henry VIII.
In the 16th century, a family named Chapel owned land in the village of Stamford, Lincolnshire. Richard Chapel (c. 1520-1588) was a member of this family and served as the Sheriff of Lincolnshire.
During the English Civil War in the 17th century, Samuel Chapel (c. 1618-1676) was a Puritan preacher and supporter of Oliver Cromwell. He was known for his fiery sermons against the monarchy.
In the late 18th century, John Chapel (1739-1808) was a prominent architect who designed several churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chapel surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 63 Chapels recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.70x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 63 | 1.70x |
| Glamorgan | 41 | 6.29x |
| Middlesex | 35 | 0.93x |
| Lancashire | 34 | 0.76x |
| Cornwall | 23 | 5.42x |
| Devon | 18 | 2.31x |
| Surrey | 17 | 0.93x |
| Essex | 15 | 2.03x |
| Midlothian | 13 | 2.59x |
| Lincolnshire | 12 | 2.00x |
| Somerset | 12 | 1.99x |
| Hampshire | 11 | 1.43x |
| Angus | 8 | 2.31x |
| Berkshire | 8 | 2.85x |
| Cheshire | 8 | 0.97x |
| Durham | 8 | 0.72x |
| Hertfordshire | 8 | 3.10x |
| Kent | 8 | 0.63x |
| Ayrshire | 7 | 2.50x |
| Northamptonshire | 7 | 1.99x |
| Gloucestershire | 5 | 0.68x |
| Nottinghamshire | 5 | 0.99x |
| Carmarthenshire | 4 | 2.53x |
| Bedfordshire | 3 | 1.55x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 0.16x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 0.21x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 0.44x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 0.31x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.17x |
| Dorset | 1 | 0.41x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 0.37x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 0.31x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 0.22x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ashton Under Lyne in Lancashire leads with 13 Chapels recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.38x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Chapel surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 27 |
| Elizabeth | 16 |
| Sarah | 15 |
| Ann | 10 |
| Eliza | 8 |
| Emma | 8 |
| Caroline | 7 |
| Annie | 6 |
| Martha | 5 |
| Jane | 4 |
| Lydia | 4 |
| Susan | 4 |
| Charlotte | 3 |
| Hannah | 3 |
| Kate | 3 |
| Margret | 3 |
| Agnes | 2 |
| Alice | 2 |
| Clara | 2 |
| Edith | 2 |
| Emily | 2 |
| Grace | 2 |
| Jessie | 2 |
| Lizzie | 2 |
| Louisa | 2 |
| Lucy | 2 |
| Matilda | 2 |
| Angelina | 1 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Annis | 1 |
| Cathrine | 1 |
| Christina | 1 |
| E. | 1 |
| Elen | 1 |
| Elizth | 1 |
| Elizth. | 1 |
| Ellen | 1 |
| Ellenor | 1 |
| Ethel | 1 |
| Flora | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Isabella | 1 |
| Jeannie | 1 |
| Jennet | 1 |
| Laura | 1 |
| Lavina | 1 |
| Leaney | 1 |
| M.Jane | 1 |
| Voilit | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Chapel surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| George | 23 |
| John | 18 |
| James | 14 |
| Thomas | 11 |
| William | 11 |
| Charles | 8 |
| Henry | 6 |
| Joseph | 6 |
| Robert | 5 |
| Samuel | 5 |
| Edward | 4 |
| Frederick | 4 |
| Albert | 3 |
| Benjamin | 3 |
| Richard | 3 |
| Willm. | 3 |
| Abraham | 2 |
| Alfred | 2 |
| Emanuel | 2 |
| Jonathan | 2 |
| Mathew | 2 |
| Phillip | 2 |
| Robt. | 2 |
| Walter | 2 |
| Albort | 1 |
| Bernard | 1 |
| Chas. | 1 |
| David | 1 |
| E.John | 1 |
| Edwd. | 1 |
| Ellis | 1 |
| Emmanuel | 1 |
| Ernest | 1 |
| Francis | 1 |
| Geo.E. | 1 |
| Harold | 1 |
| Harry | 1 |
| Herbert | 1 |
| Isack | 1 |
| Joe | 1 |
| Moses | 1 |
| Nathan | 1 |
| Nicholas | 1 |
| Percy | 1 |
| Peter | 1 |
| Sam | 1 |
| Thos. | 1 |
| W.Charles | 1 |
| Wm. | 1 |
| Wm.Stewart | 1 |
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Chapel households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 59 |
| Ag Lab | 13 |
| Domestic Servant | 5 |
| Farm Labr | 4 |
| General Servant | 4 |
| Card Room Hand | 3 |
| Dressmaker | 3 |
| General Serv | 3 |
| Wood Man | 3 |
| -- | 2 |
| Beer Seller | 2 |
| Charwoman | 2 |
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| Coalminer | 2 |
| Farm Servant | 2 |
| Farmers Daughter | 2 |
| General Domestic Servant | 2 |
| Housemaid (Dom) | 2 |
| Infant | 2 |
| Labourer | 2 |
| Lace Maker | 2 |
| Spinner (C M) | 2 |
| Wife | 2 |
| Woollen Gigger | 2 |
| Agent Iron Mine Wife | 1 |
| Asst Warder | 1 |
| Beerhouse Keeper | 1 |
| Blanket Whipper | 1 |
| Boarding House Keeper | 1 |
| Brickmaker | 1 |
| Carding Hand | 1 |
| Carman Furniture | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Carter (Ag) | 1 |
| Clerk (Out Of Employment) | 1 |
| Clerk Out Of Employ | 1 |
| Cloth Finisher | 1 |
| Cloth Fuller | 1 |
| Coal Labourer | 1 |
| Cordwainer | 1 |
| Cotton Operative | 1 |
| Cotton Reeler | 1 |
| Cotton Threader & Winder | 1 |
| Dairy Boy | 1 |
| Dock Labourer | 1 |
| Dom Serv | 1 |
| Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Drapers Assistant | 1 |
| Driver RA | 1 |
| Yarn Twister Woolen | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 391 people were recorded with the Chapel surname. That placed it at #8,090 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 82 in 2016. That gives Chapel a modern rank of #32,895.
An English topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a chapel or church.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Chapel bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.