Find out how popular the last name Cape is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Cape.

Cape, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Cape surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cape in America

Cape is the 11971st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cape surname appeared 2,609 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Cape.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cape to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Cape

The surname CAPE is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "caep" or "cape," meaning a cloak or hooded garment. It is believed to have originated as an occupational name for a maker or seller of capes and cloaks during the medieval period.

The earliest recorded instances of the CAPE surname can be traced back to the late 12th century in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Cambridgeshire. One of the earliest known bearers of this name was Richard Cape, who was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1195.

The CAPE surname has been associated with several notable historical figures throughout the centuries. One prominent example is William Cape, a 16th-century English clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Ely from 1559 until his death in 1615.

Another notable bearer of the CAPE surname was Joseph Cape, a Dutch-born English engraver and artist who lived from 1638 to 1722. He is best known for his engravings of portrait miniatures and landscapes, as well as his etchings of biblical scenes.

In the 18th century, Samuel Cape, a British architect and surveyor, made significant contributions to the development of London's infrastructure. He was responsible for the design and construction of several notable buildings and structures, including the Guildhall in the City of London, which was completed in 1788.

During the 19th century, the CAPE surname gained recognition through the works of Jonathan Cape, a British publisher and founder of the publishing house Jonathan Cape Ltd. Born in 1879, he played a pivotal role in promoting and publishing works by notable authors such as James Joyce, H.G. Wells, and Graham Greene.

Another prominent figure with the CAPE surname was William Cape, a 20th-century British film producer and director. Born in 1898, he was known for his work in the early years of British cinema, directing and producing several notable films, including "The Crimson Circle" (1936) and "The Rat" (1937).

While the CAPE surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, where descendants of English immigrants have carried on the name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cape

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Cape.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Cape was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Cape has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Cape was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Cape, please contact us.

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