NameCensus.

UK surname

Chappel

An occupational surname referring to a clergyman or one who worked in a chapel.

In the 1881 census there were 1,317 people recorded with the Chappel surname, ranking it #3,113 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 307, ranked #14,508, down from #3,113 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Silkstone, London parishes and Hatfield, Fishlake, Thorne, Crowle (Eastoft). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lewes, Broadland and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chappel is 1,355 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 76.7%.

1881 census count

1,317

Ranked #3,113

Modern count

307

2016, ranked #14,508

Peak year

1851

1,355 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chappel had 1,317 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,113 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 307 in 2016, ranked #14,508.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,355 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Chappel surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chappel surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chappel 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 1,355 #2,121
1861 historical 1,303 #2,189
1881 historical 1,317 #3,113
1891 historical 1,281 #3,374
1901 historical 1,041 #4,597
1911 historical 772 #5,620
1997 modern 367 #11,751
1998 modern 375 #11,939
1999 modern 371 #12,101
2000 modern 362 #12,264
2001 modern 347 #12,449
2002 modern 350 #12,620
2003 modern 328 #13,026
2004 modern 340 #12,707
2005 modern 329 #12,966
2006 modern 308 #13,669
2007 modern 332 #13,087
2008 modern 311 #13,800
2009 modern 316 #13,933
2010 modern 317 #14,166
2011 modern 316 #14,092
2012 modern 311 #14,173
2013 modern 309 #14,451
2014 modern 322 #14,113
2015 modern 313 #14,313
2016 modern 307 #14,508

Geography

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Where Chappels are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Silkstone, London parishes, Hatfield, Fishlake, Thorne, Crowle (Eastoft), Batley and Wakefield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lewes, Broadland, East Riding of Yorkshire, Basildon and Doncaster. 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 Silkstone Yorkshire, West Riding
2 London parishes London 3
3 Hatfield, Fishlake, Thorne, Crowle (Eastoft) Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lewes 013 Lewes
2 Broadland 006 Broadland
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 032 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 Basildon 008 Basildon
5 Doncaster 003 Doncaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chappel

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chappel

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

Chappel is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Chappel

The surname Chappel has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "ciepel," which referred to a small chapel or a merchant's stall. This name was initially given to families who lived near a chapel or were involved in the trade or commerce of goods at a stall or market.

Chappel is a locational surname, meaning it was often taken from the names of places where the original bearers resided. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various historical documents, such as the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "de Capella" and "atte Chapele."

The name Chappel has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing this surname was Sir William Chappel, a prominent landowner and knight who lived in the 13th century. Another notable figure was John Chappel, a renowned scholar and theologian who served as the Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, in the 15th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Chappel family played a significant role in the English Civil War. Richard Chappel, born in 1592, was a prominent Parliamentarian who fought against the Royalist forces. His son, William Chappel (1618-1679), was a noted lawyer and member of the House of Commons.

In the literary world, Thomas Chappel (1756-1840) was a celebrated English poet and playwright. His works, such as "The Ode to Evening" and "The Siege of Malta," garnered critical acclaim during his lifetime.

Another notable figure with the surname Chappel was Sir Fulke Greville-Chappel (1836-1908), a British diplomat and politician who served as the Governor of New South Wales, Australia, from 1885 to 1892.

While the surname Chappel has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and other English-speaking countries, due to migration and immigration patterns. The name continues to be associated with its historical ties to religious and commercial activities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chappel families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chappel 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. Yorkshire leads with 411 Chappels recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.23x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 411 3.23x
Middlesex 107 0.83x
Cornwall 105 7.21x
Glamorgan 80 3.57x
Lancashire 70 0.46x
Surrey 48 0.77x
Gloucestershire 36 1.43x
Lincolnshire 33 1.61x
Nottinghamshire 32 1.85x
Somerset 28 1.35x
Bedfordshire 24 3.61x
Carmarthenshire 21 3.88x
Kent 21 0.48x
Cheshire 20 0.70x
Staffordshire 20 0.46x
Wiltshire 20 1.76x
Buckinghamshire 17 2.19x
Monmouthshire 17 1.83x
Essex 15 0.59x
Leicestershire 15 1.05x
Midlothian 15 0.87x
Devon 14 0.52x
Durham 14 0.37x
Hertfordshire 13 1.47x
Brecknockshire 11 4.28x
Cumberland 11 0.99x
Derbyshire 11 0.55x
Channel Islands 10 2.62x
Dorset 10 1.19x
Hampshire 9 0.34x
Renfrewshire 9 0.90x
Worcestershire 8 0.48x
Cambridgeshire 7 0.86x
Lanarkshire 5 0.12x
Northamptonshire 5 0.41x
Warwickshire 5 0.15x
Royal Navy 4 2.61x
Suffolk 4 0.26x
Pembrokeshire 3 0.73x
Sussex 3 0.14x
Berkshire 2 0.21x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.08x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.39x
Norfolk 1 0.05x
Oxfordshire 1 0.13x
Shropshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Batley in Yorkshire leads with 41 Chappels recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.86x.

Place Total Index
Batley 41 33.86x
Huddersfield 36 19.40x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 33 72.51x
Llanelly 21 17.21x
Lambeth 19 1.69x
Thorne 19 120.25x
Kempston 16 105.89x
Bishopwearmouth 14 4.26x
Crigglestone 14 114.10x
Paul 14 52.93x
Sherston Magna 14 204.38x
Humberstone 13 111.02x
Leeds 13 1.81x
St Just In Penwith 13 46.03x
Swansea Town 12 6.54x
Castleford 11 23.71x
Dewsbury 11 8.42x
Llangeinor 11 83.46x
Paddington London 11 2.33x
Aberdare 10 6.51x
Ecclesfield 10 10.70x
Holy Trinity 10 3.26x
Islington London 10 0.80x
Liversedge 10 17.63x
Roath 10 9.83x
Wath On Dearne 10 39.34x
Aylesbury 9 26.13x
Bedminster 9 4.63x
Bow London 9 5.50x
Camberwell 9 1.10x
Camborne 9 15.01x
Darton 9 68.97x
East Greenock 9 9.57x
Kimberworth 9 12.73x
Meltham 9 45.43x
Penarth 9 41.13x
Wolverhampton 9 2.70x
Beswick 8 20.51x
Brightside Bierlow 8 3.20x
Elland Cum Greetland 8 13.94x
Enfield 8 9.48x
Goole 8 37.47x
Hackney London 8 1.11x
Helston 8 52.88x
Illogan 8 20.76x
Purston Jaglin 8 257.23x
Rastrick 8 22.61x
Soothill 8 17.38x
South Leith 8 4.13x
St Austell 8 16.08x
Towednack 8 280.70x
Vaynor 8 63.64x
Wotton Under Edge 8 53.84x
Blackburn 7 1.72x
Bristol Temple 7 42.17x
Burslem 7 5.63x
Droylsden 7 14.06x
Layton With Warbreck 7 12.50x
Lidlington 7 241.38x
Llandaff 7 9.40x
St Buryan 7 116.47x
St Helier 7 5.64x
West Ham 7 1.25x
Westbury On Trym 7 8.19x
Anstey 6 344.83x
Bourn 6 36.14x
Chelsea London 6 1.55x
Deptford St Paul 6 1.77x
Disley Stanley 6 41.07x
Edingley 6 458.02x
Hornsey 6 3.69x
Hunslet 6 3.02x
Lower Machen 6 131.29x
Neath Middle 6 705.88x
Netherthong 6 145.63x
Newington 6 17.10x
North Leith 6 7.53x
Poplar London 6 2.47x
Sharlston 6 71.77x
St Marylebone London 6 0.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 72
Elizabeth 54
Sarah 42
Emma 28
Annie 26
Ann 24
Eliza 23
Ellen 20
Jane 20
Alice 18
Emily 15
Hannah 13
Harriet 12
Louisa 12
Maria 12
Martha 11
Margaret 10
Fanny 7
Susan 7
Caroline 6
Lucy 6
Lydia 6
Agnes 5
Beatrice 5
Edith 5
Ethel 5
Florence 5
Frances 5
Harriett 5
Kate 5
Amy 4
Anne 4
Catherine 4
Clara 4
Julia 4
Rose 4
Ruth 4
Selina 4
Ada 3
Eleanor 3
Esther 3
Matilda 3
Rebecca 3
Albinia 2
Anna 2
Barbara 2
Blanche 2
Laura 2
Lily 2
Lizzie 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 77
William 72
George 46
Thomas 39
Joseph 30
James 29
Charles 26
Henry 21
Richard 17
Robert 17
Alfred 14
Edward 13
Arthur 9
Edwin 9
Samuel 9
David 8
Herbert 8
Walter 8
Harry 7
Ernest 6
Frederick 6
Albert 5
Fred 5
Benjamin 4
Frank 4
Sidney 4
Wm. 4
Geo. 3
Joshua 3
Moses 3
Willie 3
Willm. 3
Allen 2
Christopher 2
Daniel 2
Edmund 2
Emanuel 2
Fredrick 2
Job 2
Mark 2
Matthew 2
Oliver 2
Phillip 2
Sam 2
Stephen 2
Tom 2
Charls. 1
Eli 1
Ellis 1
Enoch 1

FAQ

Chappel surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chappel surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,317 people were recorded with the Chappel surname. That placed it at #3,113 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chappel surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 307 in 2016. That gives Chappel a modern rank of #14,508.

What does the Chappel surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a clergyman or one who worked in a chapel.

What does the Chappel map show?

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