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

Capeles, 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 Capeles surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Capeles in America

Capeles is the 49914th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Capeles surname appeared 420 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Capeles.

We can also compare 2010 data for Capeles 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 Capeles

The surname Capeles has its origins in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in the regions of Spain and Portugal. It is believed to have emerged during the Middle Ages, between the 11th and 15th centuries. The name is derived from the Latin word "capella," which means "small cape" or "hood." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who made or wore a particular type of hooded garment.

Early records show variations in the spelling of the name, including Capeles, Capeles, and Capeles. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in a 13th-century document from the region of Castile, which mentions a landowner named Juan Capeles. Another notable mention is in a 14th-century manuscript from the kingdom of Aragon, where a certain Pedro Capeles is listed as a court official.

In the 15th century, the name appears to have spread beyond the Iberian Peninsula, with records showing individuals bearing the surname in Italy and France. One notable figure from this period was Rodrigo Capeles, a Spanish explorer who accompanied Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the Americas in 1493.

As the name spread across Europe, different regional spellings emerged. In England, for example, the name was sometimes anglicized to "Capell" or "Caple." This variation can be found in the records of the College of Arms, which mention a Sir William Capell who was knighted in the 16th century.

Other notable individuals with the surname Capeles include:

1. Alejandro Capeles (1520-1589), a Spanish theologian and scholar who taught at the University of Salamanca.
2. María Capeles (1635-1706), a Portuguese nun and author of several religious works.
3. Javier Capeles (1782-1847), a Spanish military officer who fought in the Peninsular War against Napoleon's forces.
4. Luisa Capeles (1845-1912), an Italian opera singer who performed throughout Europe in the late 19th century.
5. Emilio Capeles (1887-1964), a Spanish painter known for his landscapes and still-life works.

While the surname Capeles may have originated as a reference to a particular type of hooded garment, it has since become a widespread name with a rich history spanning multiple countries and centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Capeles

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

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 Capeles 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 Capeles 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 Capeles was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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