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

Capers, 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 Capers surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Capers in America

Capers is the 5974th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Capers surname appeared 5,759 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Capers.

We can also compare 2010 data for Capers 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 Capers

The surname Capers is of English origin, derived from the Old French word "caperis," which means "caper bush." This plant, also known as the Flinders rose, is native to the Mediterranean region and was likely introduced to England during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Capers surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Caperes." This suggests that the name may have been adopted by individuals who cultivated or traded in capers, or perhaps lived near areas where the caper bush grew abundantly.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Capers was primarily concentrated in the southern counties of England, particularly in regions with a strong Norman influence, such as Sussex and Kent. The earliest known bearer of the name was Richard Capers, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1203.

Over time, the surname underwent various spelling variations, including Capers, Cappers, Capars, and Caperis. These variations likely resulted from differences in local dialects and the inconsistencies in record-keeping during that era.

One notable figure bearing the Capers surname was Sir William Capers (1542-1623), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Kent. He served as the Sheriff of Kent in 1592 and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I in 1603 for his contributions to the local community.

Another prominent individual was John Capers (1673-1746), a renowned horticulturist from Surrey. He is credited with introducing several new plant varieties to England and authored the influential work "The English Garden" in 1724, which became a standard reference for gardeners of the time.

In the 18th century, the Capers surname gained recognition through the exploits of Captain Thomas Capers (1737-1799), a British naval officer who distinguished himself during the American Revolutionary War. His daring exploits earned him the nickname "The Scourge of the Seas."

Moving into the 19th century, one cannot overlook the contributions of Reverend William Capers (1790-1855), a Methodist minister and missionary from South Carolina. He played a significant role in the expansion of Methodism throughout the Southern United States and was instrumental in establishing several educational institutions.

While the Capers surname may not be as common today as it once was, its history is deeply rooted in England's agricultural and maritime traditions, as well as its colonial ties with the Americas. The name serves as a reminder of the diverse cultural influences that have shaped the English language and its associated surnames over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Capers

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

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

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

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