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

Capelo, 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 Capelo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Capelo in America

Capelo is the 69392nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Capelo surname appeared 283 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 Capelo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Capelo 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 Capelo

The surname Capelo has its origins in Portugal, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Portuguese word "capela," which means "chapel" or "small church." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who lived near a chapel or were involved in its maintenance or construction.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Capelo surname can be found in a medieval Portuguese document from the 13th century, which mentions a nobleman named Afonso Capelo. This indicates that the name was already well-established among the Portuguese nobility during that period.

In the 14th century, the Capelo family gained prominence in the region of Alentejo, where they owned vast estates and wielded significant influence. One notable member of the family was João Capelo, a military commander who fought alongside King João I during the Portuguese-Castilian crisis of the late 14th century.

During the Age of Discovery, several individuals bearing the Capelo surname played pivotal roles in the Portuguese exploration and colonization efforts. One such figure was Bartolomeu Capelo, a 16th-century navigator who accompanied Vasco da Gama on his second voyage to India in 1502.

Another historically significant figure was António Capelo, a 17th-century Jesuit missionary who spent decades in Brazil, working to convert indigenous populations to Christianity. His writings and accounts of his experiences in the New World provide valuable insights into the colonial era.

In the 19th century, Joaquim Capelo gained recognition as a prominent Portuguese explorer and geographer. He led several expeditions to Africa, including a noteworthy journey across the continent from Angola to Mozambique, which contributed significantly to the understanding of the region's geography and natural resources.

It is worth noting that variations in the spelling of the surname exist, such as Capello and Cappello, which can be found in other regions of Europe, particularly Italy. However, these variations are distinct from the Portuguese Capelo and have their own historical origins and lineages.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Capelo

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

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

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

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