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Capel Family History

Capel Surname Meaning

English: variant of Capell. French: regional variant of Chapel from a dialect diminutive of Old French chape ‘hooded cloak cape hood’ or ‘hat’ hence a metonymic occupational name for a maker of cloaks or hats or a nickname for a habitual wearer of a distinctive cloak or hat.

Catalan: old variant or Castilianized form of Capell ‘hat hood’ a cognate of 2 above.

Dutch: topographic name from Middle Dutch capelle ‘chapel’. Dutch: possibly also from capeel ‘hat’ hence a cognate of 2 above.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Capel family from?

You can see how Capel families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Capel family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Capel families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 249 Capel families living in London. This was about 28% of all the recorded Capel's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Capel families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Capel surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Capel ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Capel. 13% of Capel men worked as a General Labourer and 77% of Capel women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Capel were Incapacitated and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Capel | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    13%
  • Farmer
    9%
  • Painter decorator
    8%
  • Incapacitated
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    77%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Private Means
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%

What Capel family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 25,000 census records available for the last name Capel. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Capel census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Capel

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Capel. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Capel immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Capel. For the veterans among your Capel ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Capel military records

You've only scratched the surface of Capel family history

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What is the average Capel lifespan?

Between 1954 and 2004, in the United States, Capel life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1960, and highest in 1994. The average life expectancy for Capel in 1954 was 45, and 53 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Capel

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Capel ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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