Find out how popular the last name Kapitan is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Kapitan.
A surname derived from the word "captain" in various languages, indicating a military or maritime occupation.
Kapitan, 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 Kapitan surname is from the 2010 census data.
Kapitan is the 53204th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Kapitan surname appeared 389 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 Kapitan.
We can also compare 2010 data for Kapitan 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.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | 53204 | 50055 | 6.10% |
| Count | 389 | 393 | -1.02% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.13 | 0.15 | -14.29% |
The surname Kapitan originated in Poland and the Czech Republic during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Slavic word "kapitan," meaning "captain" or "leader." This name was likely first given as a descriptive nickname to someone who held a position of authority, perhaps a military commander or the leader of a group.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Kapitan surname can be found in Polish historical records from the 14th century. It appears in a manuscript detailing the exploits of a nobleman named Jakub Kapitan, who led a contingent of soldiers during the Polish-Lithuanian wars against the Teutonic Knights.
In the late 15th century, a Czech knight named Jan Kapitan is mentioned in chronicles as a prominent figure in the Hussite Wars, fighting alongside the forces of Jan Žižka against the Holy Roman Empire. His bravery and leadership on the battlefield likely earned him the surname Kapitan.
During the 16th century, the Kapitan name began to spread throughout Eastern Europe, with several notable individuals bearing the surname. One such person was Jerzy Kapitan, a Polish diplomat and scholar who served as an envoy to the Ottoman Empire in the mid-1500s.
In the 17th century, a Russian explorer named Semyon Kapitan is recorded as having led expeditions into Siberia, mapping and exploring vast stretches of uncharted territory. His exploits earned him renown and his surname became associated with adventurous spirit and leadership.
Another notable bearer of the Kapitan surname was Józef Kapitan, a Polish military officer who fought against the Swedish forces during the Swedish Deluge in the mid-17th century. His valiant defense of the city of Poznan earned him recognition and his surname became a symbol of patriotism and bravery.
As the centuries passed, the Kapitan surname continued to be associated with positions of authority and leadership, both in military and civilian contexts. While it may have originated as a descriptive nickname, it evolved into a proud family name carried by generations of distinguished individuals throughout Eastern Europe.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Kapitan.
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:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Kapitan was:
| Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic White Only | 97.43% | 379 |
| Non-Hispanic Black Only | (S)% | (S) |
| Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | (S)% | (S) |
| Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | (S) |
| 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.
Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Kapitan has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 97.43% | 95.93% | 1.55% |
| Black | (S)% | 0.00% | (S)% |
| Asian and Pacific Islander | (S)% | 1.27% | (S)% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
| Two or More Races | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
| Hispanic | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
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 Kapitan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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