Kapas last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Kapas

A surname potentially derived from the Latvian word for cotton or the German word meaning 'cup'.

Kapas, 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 Kapas surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kapas in America

Kapas is the 158432nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kapas surname appeared 102 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 Kapas.

The history of the last name Kapas

The surname KAPAS has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the regions that now comprise modern-day India and Pakistan. The name can be traced back to the 16th century, and it is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "kapas," which means cotton.

In ancient times, the Indian subcontinent was renowned for its thriving cotton industry, and many families were involved in the cultivation, processing, and trading of cotton. It is likely that the KAPAS surname was initially adopted by individuals or families who were associated with this lucrative trade.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the KAPAS surname can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century administrative document commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This document contains references to individuals with the KAPAS surname, indicating their presence and prominence in the region during that era.

During the 17th century, the KAPAS surname appears in various historical records and manuscripts, including trade documents and land ownership records. This suggests that members of the KAPAS family had established themselves as influential merchants, landowners, or individuals of importance within their respective communities.

One notable individual bearing the KAPAS surname was Rai Bahadur Kapas Malik (1850-1925), a prominent businessman and philanthropist from Punjab, British India. He made significant contributions to the development of the region's cotton industry and was actively involved in social and educational initiatives.

Another prominent figure was Kapas Chand Bhandari (1867-1944), a renowned scholar and educationist from Rajasthan, British India. He was instrumental in establishing several educational institutions and promoting literary works in the region.

In the 19th century, the KAPAS surname can be found in various records from the British colonial era, such as census data and land ownership records. This indicates that members of the KAPAS family had migrated or established themselves in different parts of the Indian subcontinent during this period.

The KAPAS surname has also been associated with several place names in the Indian subcontinent, such as Kapas Hera and Kapas Khas, which were likely named after individuals or families bearing this surname. These place names further reinforce the historical significance and geographic spread of the KAPAS surname.

Throughout history, individuals with the KAPAS surname have made significant contributions in various fields, including business, education, literature, and philanthropy. While the name may have originated from a connection to the cotton industry, it has since transcended its initial association and become a respected surname in its own right.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kapas

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

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 Kapas was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 91.18% 93
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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.

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

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

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Kapas last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on August 29, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/kapas-surname-popularity/.

"Kapas last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/kapas-surname-popularity/. Accessed 29 August, 2025

Kapas last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/kapas-surname-popularity/.

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