NameCensus.

UK surname

Kapp

A German occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of caps, hats, or hoods.

In the 1881 census there were 9 people recorded with the Kapp surname, ranking it #32,416 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 130, ranked #26,152, up from #32,416 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Lincolnshire, Cherwell and Croydon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kapp is 130 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1344.4%.

1881 census count

9

Ranked #32,416

Modern count

130

2016, ranked #26,152

Peak year

2016

130 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kapp had 9 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,416 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 130 in 2016, ranked #26,152.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 51 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Kapp surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kapp surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kapp 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 2 #33,133
1861 historical 7 #33,053
1881 historical 9 #32,416
1891 historical 28 #32,046
1901 historical 34 #30,281
1911 historical 51 #27,708
1997 modern 95 #27,638
1998 modern 112 #25,856
1999 modern 118 #25,227
2000 modern 98 #27,988
2001 modern 100 #27,402
2002 modern 109 #26,552
2003 modern 102 #27,383
2004 modern 109 #26,607
2005 modern 99 #28,177
2006 modern 106 #27,332
2007 modern 109 #27,253
2008 modern 117 #26,351
2009 modern 122 #26,220
2010 modern 122 #26,876
2011 modern 124 #26,367
2012 modern 121 #26,829
2013 modern 120 #27,406
2014 modern 121 #27,503
2015 modern 128 #26,356
2016 modern 130 #26,152

Geography

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Where Kapps 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 North Lincolnshire, Cherwell, Croydon, Ribble Valley and Arun. 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 North Lincolnshire 010 North Lincolnshire
2 Cherwell 011 Cherwell
3 Croydon 027 Croydon
4 Ribble Valley 001 Ribble Valley
5 Arun 012 Arun

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kapp

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kapp

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Kapp surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Kapp 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Kapp is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Kapp is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kapp falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kapp 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 Kapp, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kapp

The surname KAPP originated in Germany, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Old German word "kapp," meaning a cloak or hood. The name was likely initially given as a descriptive surname to someone who wore a distinctive cloak or hood.

KAPP is considered a Low German surname, with its roots in northern Germany, particularly in areas like Lower Saxony and Westphalia. The earliest recorded spelling variations include Kapp, Kappe, and Kappen.

One of the earliest known references to the surname KAPP can be found in the Kirchenbücher (church records) of the town of Lüneburg, Lower Saxony, which date back to the mid-16th century. These records mention several individuals with the surname KAPP, suggesting the name's prevalence in the region during that time.

In the 17th century, the name KAPP appears in various historical documents, including tax records and land deeds, across northern Germany. One notable early bearer of the name was Johann Kapp (1573-1637), a German theologian and author from Westphalia.

As the name spread, it also became associated with certain place names, such as Kappeln in Schleswig-Holstein, which may have influenced its adoption as a surname in these areas.

Other notable individuals with the surname KAPP throughout history include:

1. Friedrich Kapp (1824-1884), a German philosopher and writer from Hamm, Westphalia. 2. Christian Kapp (1839-1904), a German-American architect and writer, best known for his work on the State Capitol building in Austin, Texas. 3. Eduard Kapp (1860-1938), a German industrialist and pioneer in the field of electrical engineering, born in Düsseldorf. 4. Wolfgang Kapp (1858-1922), a Prussian civil servant and politician who led the unsuccessful Kapp Putsch of 1920, an attempt to overthrow the Weimar Republic. 5. Ernst Kapp (1808-1896), a German philosopher and writer from Königsberg, known for his work on the philosophy of technology.

While the surname KAPP originated in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world through emigration, particularly to North America and other regions with significant German diasporas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kapp families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kapp 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 4 Kapps recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.85x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 4 3.85x
Middlesex 3 3.42x
Hampshire 1 5.57x
Warwickshire 1 4.52x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Layton With Warbreck in Lancashire leads with 4 Kapps recorded in 1881 and an index of 1052.63x.

Place Total Index
Layton With Warbreck 4 1052.63x
St Pancras London 2 28.37x
Birmingham 1 13.57x
Hackney London 1 20.37x
Portsmouth 1 243.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emilia 1
Marie 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Edgar 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
George 1
John 1
William 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 Kapp households.

FAQ

Kapp surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kapp surname in 1881?

In 1881, 9 people were recorded with the Kapp surname. That placed it at #32,416 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kapp surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 130 in 2016. That gives Kapp a modern rank of #26,152.

What does the Kapp surname mean?

A German occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of caps, hats, or hoods.

What does the Kapp map show?

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