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

Kappel, 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 Kappel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kappel in America

Kappel is the 11073rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kappel surname appeared 2,869 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 Kappel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kappel 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 Kappel

The surname Kappel originated in Germany and can be traced back to the early 13th century. It is derived from the Germanic word "Kappel," which means a small chapel or church. The name was likely given to someone who lived near or worked in a chapel or small church.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Kappel is found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of historical documents from Saxony, Germany. The document, dated 1228, mentions a "Johannes de Kappel," indicating the presence of the surname in that region during that time.

In the late 13th century, the name appears in the records of the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, in present-day Bavaria, Germany. A document from 1291 refers to a "Henricus dictus Kappel," suggesting the surname's usage in this area as well.

The name Kappel is also associated with several place names in Germany, such as Kappeln, a town in Schleswig-Holstein, and Kappel-Grafenhausen, a municipality in Baden-Württemberg. These place names may have influenced the adoption of the surname by individuals living in or near these locations.

One notable person with the surname Kappel was Hans Kappel (1495-1541), a German theologian and reformer who supported the Protestant Reformation. He was a follower of Martin Luther and played a significant role in the spread of Protestantism in Saxony.

Another person of historical significance was Emilie Kappel (1828-1895), a German writer and translator. She was known for her translations of English literature into German, including works by Charles Dickens and William Makepeace Thackeray.

In the 15th century, a German manuscript known as the "Kappel Codex" was produced in the town of Kappel am Albis, Switzerland. This illuminated manuscript contains religious texts and is considered an important example of late medieval book art.

Johannes Kappel (1570-1638) was a German composer and organist who served at the court of Prince Johann Georg I of Saxony. His compositions, primarily sacred works, were highly regarded during his lifetime.

Another notable figure was Gerhard Kappel (1673-1738), a German architect and engineer who worked on various projects in Saxony, including the construction of churches and fortifications.

While the surname Kappel has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora. However, the origins and historical references mentioned above provide valuable insights into the name's rich heritage and its connection to the German language and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kappel

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

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

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

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