As described in historical dictionaries

An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857)

An old word signifying a strong horse. "And gave him caples to his carte." Chaucer. Capel, Danish, an oratory, a chapel.

Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.


Patronymica Britannica (1860)

CAPEL. The Earl of Essex descends from a lord-mayor of London, 1503. The surname is proliably deri\'ed from one of the parishes so called in Surrey, Kent, and Suffolk. The Capels of Gloucestershire claim from How Capel, co. Hereford. In charters it is latinized De Capella.

Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.


Surname type: Location or geographical feature

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

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