Surname Cable - Meaning and Origin

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K. Cable

Cable: What does the surname Cable mean?

The last name Cable is of English origin and comes from the Middle English word 'cable', meaning a rope or strong cord. It was used to denote a person who made or worked with ropes or cords.

Cable can also be a topographical or locational surname, referring to someone who lived near a prominent riverbank marked by thick cables or ropes. These marks served as a dock that enabled boats to leave port or come into shore, thus providing navigational markers for seafarers.

Cable is also a nickname for a person whose speech or manner of dress was neat and precise, as a rope of the same name used to be used to describe well-organized items.

In early records, the surname Cable was often attached to a word such as 'de' (of) or 'atte' (at the), as Cable was a common reference to cords used in many trades. Thus, a person named Cable may have been involved in ropemaking, weaving, or another profession that involved cordage.

Surnames that are derived from trades often evolved in different ways over the years. Cable could also be a given name, implying some kind of strength, secureness, or reliability, as ropes of the same name were used to bind or steady things in days past.

No matter what the source of the name Cable, it has been used since at least the 11th century and remains a familiar part of the English language today.

Cable: Where does the name Cable come from?

The last name Cable is most commonly found today in the United States and England. In the United States, the last name Cable is most commonly found in the Southern states, especially those in the Midwestern and Southeastern regions. Cable is one of the many surnames derived from the ancient Saxon language and is believed to originate from the Old English word for rope maker.

In England, the last name Cable can be found scattered throughout the country but is most often encountered in Devon and Dorset, two counties in the Southwest of England. It is believed that the English Cable family may have been descended from Norman aristocracy, as the use of the name is mentioned in records of the time period from which William the Conqueror hailed.

In both countries, the surname Cable has survived into modern times and continues to be used by families with a proud sense of tradition. Records from the 17th century show that many of the Cable family members had attained a profession of ship builder and sailor. Interestingly, some developed the skill to build and mend rope and nets, suggesting that the family may have originated from one of these skills.

Today, the last name Cable is still present in both the United States and England and continues to thrive in spite of the passage of time. It is a strong reminder of centuries of family history and often serves as a source of pride and identity.

Variations of the surname Cable

The surname Cable is derived from the Old French phrase ‘cabler’ which translates to ‘boatswain’, or someone in charge of the ropes and cables on a ship.

Variants of the surname Cable include Cabell, Cabble, Cabel, Cabelle, Cablel, Cabyle, Cabyle, Cabylle, and Cabell.

Spellings of the Cable surname vary from country to country but generally include Cabal, Caball, Cabill, Cabbage, Cabel, Cabbill, Cabil, Cabbill, Cabill, Cabillis, Cabell, Cablel, Cables, Cabill, Caballes, Cabeals and Cables.

The Cable surname has also been anglicised over the years, so there are variations such as Capper, Kabell, Kabill, Cabill and Cabillis.

In Ireland, variants of the Cable surname include Cabley, Cabele, Cabey, Cabill and Cabello.

In the Netherlands, Cable is recorded as Kabel and in the Spanish records the surname Cable appears as Caballé, Caballero, Cabrero and Cable.

The Cable surname has also been recorded in Germanic speaking countries as Kabel and in Eastern Europe as Kabile, Kabel and Kebel.

In Scotland, the Cable surname is recognised as an Anglo Norman family from Cabell in Yorkshire, England.

Cable can also be found in English and German as Cableon, Cabeleau, Cabiller and Caballero.

The Cable surname is also recognized in Jewish communities as Kabel and Kabbel.

Famous people with the name Cable

• Bill Cable: American Football coach and executive known as the president of the New York Giants from 2019: 2020.
• Brian Cable: Former Major League Baseball player who also played in the minor leagues from 1993: 1997.
• Ted Cable: American Basketball player who played with the Milwaukee Bucks from 1972: 1973.
• Dean Cable: British actor and comedian who starred in the BBC show ‘Allo ‘Allo! from 1982: 1992.
• Connor Cable: American soccer player who played as midfielder for clubs in France, Germany and the US.
• Katherine Cable: British stage actress best known for her roles in musicals such as Little Shop of Horrors, Cats and Grease.
• Jake Cable: American musician and songwriter who wrote for a variety of artists and was a member of the band The Beginning.
• Jonathan Cable: British actor and Makin’ Movies founder, best known for his roles in Transformers and La Femme Nikita.
• Richard Cable: American computer scientist and former director of the US Patents and Trademarks Office.
• Maggie Cable: Australian television presenter and radio announcer.

Other surnames

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