This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Capstaff family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Capstaff Family History

Capstaff Surname Meaning

Perhaps an altered form of Capstack; itself a variant of Copestake. While the surname may appear on comparison with Copestake to derive from Middle English coupen ‘to cut’ + staf ‘stick of wood rod’, this is unlikely as no medieval bearers of such a name have been found.

Compare Francis Capstack 1731 in IGI (Newcastle upon Tyne Northumb) with the 1740 bearer below.

Source: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain, 2021


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Capstaff family from?

You can see how Capstaff families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Capstaff family name was found in the USA, and the UK between 1891 and 1920. The most Capstaff families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 45 Capstaff families living in Northumberland. This was about 76% of all the recorded Capstaff's in United Kingdom. Northumberland had the highest population of Capstaff families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Capstaff surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Capstaff ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Quayside Labourer (heavy Worker) and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Capstaff. 100% of Capstaff men worked as a Quayside Labourer (heavy Worker) and 87% of Capstaff women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Capstaff | 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

  • Quayside Labourer (heavy Worker)
    100%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    87%
  • Unpaid Domestic Dutie
    14%

What Capstaff family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Capstaff. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Capstaff census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Capstaff

Passenger Lists

There are 642 immigration records available for the last name Capstaff. 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 Capstaff immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Capstaff. For the veterans among your Capstaff ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Capstaff military records

You've only scratched the surface of Capstaff family history

Discover More

What is the average Capstaff lifespan?

Between 1970 and 1998, in the United States, Capstaff life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1997, and highest in 1970. The average life expectancy for Capstaff in 1970 was 83, and 81 in 1998.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Capstaff

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Capstaff 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Capstaff family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial