NameCensus.

UK surname

Chappelle

A French occupational surname referring to someone who makes or sells hats or capes.

In the 1881 census there were 22 people recorded with the Chappelle surname, ranking it #30,464 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 134, ranked #25,636, up from #30,464 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caerphilly, Cheshire West and Chester and Blaenau Gwent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chappelle is 134 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 509.1%.

1881 census count

22

Ranked #30,464

Modern count

134

2016, ranked #25,636

Peak year

2016

134 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chappelle had 22 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,464 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 134 in 2016, ranked #25,636.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 45 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Chappelle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chappelle surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chappelle 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 8 #31,867
1861 historical 25 #30,804
1881 historical 22 #30,464
1891 historical 31 #31,820
1901 historical 34 #30,281
1911 historical 45 #28,332
1997 modern 115 #24,834
1998 modern 115 #25,466
1999 modern 122 #24,745
2000 modern 125 #24,351
2001 modern 121 #24,493
2002 modern 119 #25,231
2003 modern 120 #24,909
2004 modern 114 #25,870
2005 modern 116 #25,564
2006 modern 115 #25,969
2007 modern 113 #26,641
2008 modern 122 #25,638
2009 modern 124 #25,957
2010 modern 130 #25,775
2011 modern 128 #25,793
2012 modern 132 #25,289
2013 modern 128 #26,336
2014 modern 129 #26,352
2015 modern 131 #25,979
2016 modern 134 #25,636

Geography

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Where Chappelles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caerphilly, Cheshire West and Chester, Blaenau Gwent, Monmouthshire and West Berkshire. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caerphilly 017 Caerphilly
2 Cheshire West and Chester 010 Cheshire West and Chester
3 Blaenau Gwent 001 Blaenau Gwent
4 Monmouthshire 005 Monmouthshire
5 West Berkshire 010 West Berkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chappelle

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chappelle

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Chappelle is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Chappelle 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

Chappelle falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Chappelle is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 20-25 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

4
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Chappelle, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Chappelle

The surname Chappelle has its origins in France, with records dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "chapele," meaning a small chapel or oratory. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a chapel or was responsible for its maintenance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Chappelle can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive record of landowners and property in England at the time of the Norman Conquest. The name appeared as "de Chapele," indicating a connection to a specific location or estate.

During the Middle Ages, the Chappelle family was prominent in the Normandy region of France. Historical records mention a knight named Raoul Chappelle, who fought alongside William the Conqueror during the Norman invasion of England in 1066. He was later granted lands in Sussex for his services.

In the 13th century, a branch of the Chappelle family settled in the English county of Yorkshire. One notable member was Sir John Chappelle, who served as a member of Parliament during the reign of Edward III (1312-1377). He was also a respected landowner and military commander.

The name Chappelle underwent various spelling variations throughout history, including Chapell, Chapelle, and Chappel. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of local record keepers.

In the 16th century, a prominent member of the Chappelle family was Sir Thomas Chappelle (1519-1586), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament during the reigns of Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I.

Another notable figure was François Chappelle (1620-1701), a French merchant and explorer who played a significant role in the early colonization of the Caribbean. He established settlements on the islands of Martinique and Saint Lucia.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Chappelle family continued to be influential in both France and England. Some members were involved in the religious and political turmoil of the time, while others pursued careers in the military, law, and commerce.

Over the centuries, the surname Chappelle has been associated with various place names, such as Chapelle-sur-Vire in Normandy, France, and Chappel in Essex, England. These locations likely played a role in the evolution and distribution of the name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chappelle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chappelle 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. Stirlingshire leads with 9 Chappelles recorded in 1881 and an index of 113.78x.

County Total Index
Stirlingshire 9 113.78x
Yorkshire 4 1.88x
Middlesex 3 1.40x
Surrey 3 2.87x
Gloucestershire 1 2.38x
Lanarkshire 1 1.44x
Sussex 1 2.77x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Campsie in Stirlingshire leads with 9 Chappelles recorded in 1881 and an index of 2093.02x.

Place Total Index
Campsie 9 2093.02x
Leeds 4 33.33x
Send Ripley 3 2142.86x
Islington London 2 9.62x
Govan 1 5.83x
Kensington London 1 8.39x
Ore 1 370.37x
Westbury On Trym 1 70.42x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Eliza 4
Edith 1
Evelyn 1
Josephine 1
Kate 1
Martha 1
Minnie 1
Roberta 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Edwin 1

Top occupations

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 Chappelle households.

FAQ

Chappelle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chappelle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 22 people were recorded with the Chappelle surname. That placed it at #30,464 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chappelle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 134 in 2016. That gives Chappelle a modern rank of #25,636.

What does the Chappelle surname mean?

A French occupational surname referring to someone who makes or sells hats or capes.

What does the Chappelle map show?

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