UK surname
A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a chapel.
In the 1881 census there were 77 people recorded with the Chaple surname, ranking it #22,617 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 30, ranked #35,997, down from #22,617 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Cornwood, St Marylebone and Camborne. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chaple is 141 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 61.0%.
1881 census count
77
Ranked #22,617
Modern count
30
2016, ranked #35,997
Peak year
1851
141 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Chaple surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Chaple surname density by area, 1861 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 | 141 | #13,507 |
| 1861 | historical | 100 | #21,103 |
| 1881 | historical | 77 | #22,617 |
| 1891 | historical | 55 | #29,744 |
| 1901 | historical | 40 | #29,678 |
| 1911 | historical | 30 | #30,073 |
| 1997 | modern | 28 | #34,904 |
| 1998 | modern | 28 | #35,053 |
| 1999 | modern | 28 | #35,127 |
| 2000 | modern | 32 | #34,705 |
| 2001 | modern | 31 | #34,648 |
| 2002 | modern | 30 | #34,950 |
| 2003 | modern | 30 | #35,046 |
| 2004 | modern | 30 | #35,186 |
| 2005 | modern | 28 | #35,510 |
| 2006 | modern | 32 | #35,392 |
| 2007 | modern | 32 | #35,530 |
| 2008 | modern | 31 | #35,670 |
| 2009 | modern | 29 | #35,922 |
| 2010 | modern | 29 | #36,024 |
| 2011 | modern | 30 | #35,949 |
| 2012 | modern | 30 | #35,929 |
| 2013 | modern | 30 | #35,990 |
| 2014 | modern | 30 | #36,005 |
| 2015 | modern | 31 | #35,939 |
| 2016 | modern | 30 | #35,997 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Cornwood, St Marylebone, Camborne, St Buryan and Enfield. 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 | Cornwood | Devon |
| 2 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Camborne | Cornwall |
| 4 | St Buryan | Cornwall |
| 5 | Enfield | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Chaple 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 Chaple, 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 Chaple surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Chaple 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, Chaple 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 Chaple is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Chaple, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Chaple is of French origin, derived from the Old French word "chapele," meaning a small chapel or oratory. It is believed to have originated in the regions of Normandy and Brittany during the medieval period.
Historically, the name Chaple was often associated with individuals who lived near or worked in a chapel. It could have been used to identify someone who was a caretaker, sexton, or priest of a small chapel. Additionally, the name may have been given to those who resided in close proximity to a chapel.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Chaple can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "de Chapele." This entry suggests that the name was already in use by the 11th century in England.
In the 13th century, a record from the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire mentions a Johannes de la Chapele, indicating the presence of the name in that region during that time period. Another notable early bearer of the name was William de la Chapele, a landowner in Hertfordshire, who was mentioned in the Feet of Fines records in 1294.
During the 14th century, the name Chaple appeared in various forms, such as Chapell, Chapelle, and Chapele. One notable individual from this era was John Chapele, a merchant from London, who was recorded in the city's records in 1378.
In the 15th century, the name Chaple was found in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, where a Richard Chapell was recorded in the Feet of Fines in 1437. Additionally, a Thomas Chapell was mentioned in the patent rolls of King Henry VI in 1446.
Other notable bearers of the surname Chaple throughout history include:
1. Sir Clement Chaple (1550-1624), an English politician and Member of Parliament. 2. John Chapple (1670-1745), an English clockmaker and inventor from Gloucestershire. 3. William Chaple (1748-1820), a British naval officer who served in the American Revolutionary War. 4. Henri Chapelle (1842-1917), a French military officer and recipient of the Legion of Honor. 5. Erville Chaple (1880-1951), an American artist and painter from New York.
These examples illustrate the presence of the surname Chaple across various professions, regions, and time periods, reflecting its enduring legacy as a surname of French origin.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chaple 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. Middlesex leads with 28 Chaples recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.88x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 28 | 3.88x |
| Derbyshire | 8 | 7.08x |
| Dorset | 7 | 14.78x |
| Sussex | 7 | 5.75x |
| Surrey | 6 | 1.71x |
| Cornwall | 4 | 4.90x |
| Devon | 4 | 2.66x |
| Somerset | 2 | 1.72x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 2.68x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.47x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.80x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.68x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 3.38x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 1.03x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 1.47x |
| Renfrewshire | 1 | 1.79x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Enfield in Middlesex leads with 8 Chaples recorded in 1881 and an index of 169.13x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Enfield | 8 | 169.13x |
| Islington London | 8 | 11.44x |
| Upper Langwith | 8 | 16000.00x |
| Poole St James | 6 | 337.08x |
| Westham | 6 | 2400.00x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 5 | 32.55x |
| Kingston On Thames | 4 | 47.34x |
| St Just In Penwith | 3 | 189.87x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 3.18x |
| St Clement Danes London | 2 | 134.23x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 3.44x |
| Swimbridge | 2 | 666.67x |
| Abbey | 1 | 11.72x |
| Ashmansworth | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 4.60x |
| Crook Billy Row | 1 | 36.36x |
| Dunster | 1 | 357.14x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 2.47x |
| Horsted Keynes | 1 | 357.14x |
| Leighton Buzzard | 1 | 62.11x |
| Lidford | 1 | 149.25x |
| Newnham | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Plympton St Mary | 1 | 114.94x |
| Ross | 1 | 84.75x |
| South Leith | 1 | 9.19x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 2.60x |
| St Stephen In Brannel | 1 | 133.33x |
| Wellington | 1 | 63.69x |
| Wimborne Minster | 1 | 129.87x |
| Ystradyfodwg | 1 | 9.07x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Chaple surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Chaple surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Chaple households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 25 |
| Laundress | 2 |
| (Labourer) | 1 |
| Ag Lab Carter Boy | 1 |
| Assistant (Inn Servt) | 1 |
| Bill Poster | 1 |
| Carmen | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| China Clay Labourer | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Drainer On Land | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Errand Boy | 1 |
| Farm Bailiff | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| General Medical Practitioner | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Housemaid Servant | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Needlewoman | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Occupants Of Almshouse | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Railway Clerk | 1 |
| Railway Labourer | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 77 people were recorded with the Chaple surname. That placed it at #22,617 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 30 in 2016. That gives Chaple a modern rank of #35,997.
A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a chapel.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Chaple 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.