2000
#125,639
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 126
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Capetola
A topographic surname indicating someone who lived near a small chapel.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 119 Americans carry the last name Capetola. That puts it at #153,590 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,880,289 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Capetola surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
119
1 in 2,880,289
Census rank
#153,590
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
104
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 104 bearers of the surname Capetola in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 153590th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Capetola, the largest self-reported group is White at 100.0%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Capetola
The surname Capetola has its origins in Italy, specifically in the southern regions of Campania and Calabria. It is believed to have emerged during the 15th century, at the height of the Renaissance period. The name is derived from the Italian word "capetola," which translates to "small head" or "little head." This suggests that the name may have been initially used as a nickname or descriptive term for someone with a small head.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Capetola can be found in the archives of the city of Naples, dating back to the late 1400s. It appears in a document listing the names of local artisans and tradesmen. This indicates that the name was present among the working-class population of the region at that time.
In the 16th century, a family by the name of Capetola was documented in the town of Cosenza, in the province of Calabria. This branch of the family is believed to have been involved in the local agricultural industry, particularly in the cultivation of olives and grapes.
During the 17th century, a notable figure bearing the surname Capetola was Giovanni Capetola, a renowned painter from Naples. Born in 1620, he was known for his religious-themed works, which adorned many churches and monasteries throughout the city. His artistic legacy has been well-preserved, with several of his paintings still on display in various galleries and museums in Italy.
Another significant individual with the surname Capetola was Antonio Capetola, a scholar and writer who lived in the late 18th century. Born in 1755 in the town of Monteleone (now known as Vibo Valentia), he authored several books on philosophy and literature, contributing to the intellectual discourse of the time.
In the 19th century, a prominent figure named Giulia Capetola gained recognition as a philanthropist and social activist in the city of Naples. Born in 1820, she dedicated her life to improving the living conditions of the underprivileged and advocating for women's rights. Her efforts earned her widespread respect and admiration within the community.
It is worth noting that the surname Capetola has variations in spelling, such as Capetolla and Capetuli, which can be found in historical records from different regions of Italy. Additionally, some variations may have originated from the assimilation of the name into other languages or dialects over time.
While the surname Capetola is not among the most common in Italy today, it has a rich historical legacy that spans several centuries and regions, reflecting the diverse cultural and social fabric of the country.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Capetola
Among Census respondents with the surname Capetola, the largest self-reported group is White at 100.0%.
The bar chart below shows how Capetola bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Capetola surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White100.0% · 104
Timeline
Historical Census data for Capetola
Capetola appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#140,157
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 119
-7 bearers (-5.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 14,518 places
2020
#153,590
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 104
-15 bearers (-12.6%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 13,433 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #125,639 | 126 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #140,157 | 119 | 0.04 | -7 bearers (-5.6%) | Down 14,518 places |
| 2020 | #153,590 | 104 | 0.03 | -15 bearers (-12.6%) | Down 13,433 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Capetola surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #140,157 | #153,590 | -9.6% |
| Count | 119 | 104 | -12.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.03 | -13.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Capetola bearers went from 119 to 104 (-12.6% change). The surname moved down 13,433 positions in the national ranking, going from #140,157 to #153,590.
FAQ
Capetola surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Capetola?
Name Census estimates that about 119 living Americans carry the surname Capetola. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,880,289 residents.
How common is Capetola?
Capetola ranks #153,590 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 104 people with the surname Capetola. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (119), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.03 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Capetola.
Has Capetola become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Capetola went from 119 recorded bearers to 104. That is a decrease of 15 (-12.6%). In the national ranking it fell from #140,157 to #153,590.
What does the Census say about the background of Capetola?
Among Census respondents with the surname Capetola, the largest self-reported group is White at 100.0%. These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Capetola in the 2020 Census, accounting for 100.0% (104 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Capetola appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (100.0%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Capetola (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Capetola mean?
A topographic surname indicating someone who lived near a small chapel. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Capetola (0.03 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How common is the surname Capetola?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many people have the surname Capetola at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.