CAPES
Capes is a surname of both English and French origin, reflecting a history that spans several centuries in the British Isles and continental Europe. The earliest surviving record of the name is that of William Cappa dated between 1111 and 1138, found in the Early London Personal Names collection for the reign of King Henry the First. The spelling of the family name has evolved over time, but the basic form has remained recognisable to modern readers.
The name is generally considered to be an occupational surname derived from the Old French word chape, meaning cloak or cape. In medieval times it would have been applied to a person who made, sold or otherwise dealt in cloaks and capes, placing the surname within a broad category of surnames that describe a person’s trade. Alternatively, the name may have arisen as a nickname for someone who was noted for wearing a distinctive cape regularly. The occupational significance of the surname links it closely to the textile and clothing industry of the Middle Ages.
Another plausible etymological explanation is that Capes is a topographic or locational surname. The Old English term cape was used to describe a headland or prominent coastal promontory. A person living near such a feature, or near a place named for it, could have been identified by this association. In Gloucestershire a record from 1199 names William de la Cape, reflecting this type of origin. The surname therefore may also carry a descriptive element referring to a mountain or other landmark that was a focal point in the local geography.
The French element of the name is further supported by its appearance among Huguenot refugees in London during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. These emigrants, fleeing religious persecution in France, reintroduced the surname into English society, thereby reinforcing its French roots and extending its geographical spread beyond the British Isles. The name is now most commonly found in England, particularly in London and the South East, but also occurs in smaller quantities in the United States, Canada, Australia and other parts of Europe.
Variations of the surname are numerous and arise from linguistic, geographical and orthographical differences. Common alternatives include Cape, Capez, Capas, Caplus, Kapas, Kapes and Capis. Some forms also incorporate possessive endings such as Capes’ or Capes’s, reflecting changes in English grammar over the centuries. Because surnames have historically been altered through illiteracy or transcription errors, further variations may appear that are less evidently linked but still derive from the same original root.
Although not common, the surname has produced several notable individuals. Among them is the English athlete Geoff Capes, renowned for his achievements in weightlifting and powerlifting, and the British scholar and novelist Bernard Capes, who contributed to literary criticism in the twentieth century. These figures illustrate the surname’s continued presence in public life.
Typical given names associated with the Capes surname
Male
- Andrew
- Anthony
- Christopher
- David
- Geoffrey
- John
- Kevin
- Michael
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
- Sean
- Stephen
Female
- Claire
- Emma
- Janet
- Jean
- Kathleen
- Laura
- Margaret
- Marie
- Michelle
- Patricia
- Samantha
- Sarah
- Susan
- Teresa
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Capes in...
Braille
⠉⠁⠏⠑⠎
Morse
-.-..-.--.....
Semaphore
There are approximately 862 people named Capes in the UK. That makes it roughly the 8,296th most common surname in Britain. Around 13 in a million people in Britain are named Capes.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Capes
- Geoff Capes - Shot putter and strongman
- Arthur Capes - Football player (1875 to 1945)
- Adrian Capes - Football player (1873 to 1955)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.