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

Caple, 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 Caple surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Caple in America

Caple is the 13622nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Caple surname appeared 2,224 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 Caple.

We can also compare 2010 data for Caple 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 Caple

The surname Caple has its origins in England, tracing back to the early medieval period around the 11th century. It is derived from the Old English word "capel," which means a small chapel or oratory. This suggests that the name likely originated as a locational surname, referring to someone who lived near a chapel or religious building.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Capella," which was a common spelling variation at the time.

In the 13th century, records show a Richard de Capella, who was a landowner in Gloucestershire. This indicates that the name had evolved to its more modern spelling during this period and was associated with landholding families in the region.

The earliest known bearer of the name Caple was John Caple, born in 1520 in Gloucestershire. He was a prominent figure in the local community and served as a churchwarden for the parish of Bisley.

Another notable individual with this surname was William Caple, born in 1612 in Wiltshire. He was a scholar and clergyman who authored several theological works and served as the Rector of Stoke Trister in Somerset.

During the 17th century, the surname Caple also appeared in records from Oxfordshire, with a family of that name residing in the village of Stanton St. John. One member, Thomas Caple, born in 1645, was a farmer and landowner in the area.

In the 18th century, a notable figure with the surname Caple was Joseph Caple, born in 1721 in Gloucestershire. He was a successful merchant and philanthropist who donated generously to local charities and educational initiatives.

Another individual of note was Mary Caple, born in 1782 in Somerset. She was a renowned author and poet, known for her works on religious and moral themes, which were widely published during her lifetime.

Throughout its history, the surname Caple has maintained strong ties to its origins in the counties of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, and Somerset in England. While the name has spread to other parts of the world through migration, its roots can be traced back to these regions and the Old English word "capel," reflecting its connection to religious sites and buildings.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Caple

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

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

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

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