STAPLES
Staples is a surname of English origin, first recorded in the mid‑thirteenth century in the British Isles. Its earliest surviving form appears in the Hundred Rolls of Kent as Robert de Stapel in 1273, a date that places the name firmly in the reign of King Edward I. Earlier attestations such as the place name Staples (1205) and the entry for Walter de Stapel in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire (1275) support the conclusion that the name was already established in the late twelfth or early thirteenth century.
The meaning of the name is linked to the Middle English word staple, which itself derives from the Old English stapol meaning “post, pillar” or a fixed point of reference. In medieval English usage, staple acquired a commercial connotation, denoting a market or a place where goods—particularly wool—were traded. Consequently, the surname Staples may have functioned as a topographic label for a person dwelling near a market or near a boundary post, or as an occupational identifier for a trader involved in the wool trade. The dual possibility of a geographic and a commercial origin reflects the fluidity of medieval naming practices.
Evidence for the trade connection comes from a number of medieval documents. In 1279 the Place Names of Surrey records an Osmund atte Staple, indicating a connection to a place called Staple. Other early spellings include Stapele, Stapels and Stapells, demonstrating the interchangeable use of the Letter L and S in the medieval period. Later baptisms in London show the personal name in the mid‑sixteenth century: John Stapell (1558), Betters Staples (1562) and John Staples (1566). The name also appears amongst the militia of Barbados in 1679 (Mathew Staples), illustrating its spread beyond England.
In summary the surname Staples is firmly rooted in English history, deriving from the Middle English staple and reflecting either a proximity to a market or a role within the wool trade. Its recorded use from the late thirteenth century onward, coupled with variant spellings and geographic spread, underscores its enduring presence in historical records.
Typical given names associated with the Staples surname
Male
- Andrew
- Anthony
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
Female
- Angela
- Catherine
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Jennifer
- Julie
- Margaret
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Susan
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 Staples in...
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There are approximately 5,593 people named Staples in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,691st most common surname in Britain. Around 86 in a million people in Britain are named Staples.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Staples
- Stuart A. Staples - Musician
- Kate Staples - Pole vaulter and Gladiators performer
- Greg Staples - Artist
- Pete Staples - Musician and Songwriter
- Jim Staples - Irish rugby union player
- Len Staples - Football player (1926 to 2008)
- Sam Staples - Cricket player of England. (1892 to 1950)
- Arthur Staples - First-class cricketer (1899 to 1965)
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.