Surname Cappellen - Meaning and Origin
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Cappellen: What does the surname Cappellen mean?
The last name Cappellen is of Dutch and Germanic origin, and is found throughout countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium. Historically, the Cappellen family was established in various places in the Netherlands as early as the 12th century.
The literal translation of the surname Cappellen is ‘chaplain’ or ‘church administrator.’ This is likely a reference to ancestors of the family who held prominent positions in religious institutions, such as abbeys or churches. In the Middle Ages, some members of the Cappellen family even held hereditary titles of nobility, and were known as hereditary knights.
The Cappellen family has a notable history of strong and impressive leadership. Many Cappellen’s were not only administrators of religious institutions, but also influential political and social figures. Notable members of the Cappellen lineage were involved in key events and movements in Dutch and German history, from the Reformation of the 1560s, right up to modern times.
The Cappellen family is well known for its hardworking values and ambition, a character trait often found within this surname. Though a few Cappellen families have expanded to other continents, the traditional name Cappellen remains a distinctive and noteworthy part of Dutch and German culture, with a lengthy history and a bright future.
Order DNA origin analysisCappellen: Where does the name Cappellen come from?
The last name 'Cappellen' is primarily found in modern-day Belgium. It is relatively common throughout the region, especially in the province of Brabant-Wallon.
The name is derived from the Latin words for 'Chapel' (capella) and 'field' (plan). This likely refers to a specific area of land with a chapel church built upon it, likely owned by a family with the surname.
The earliest known record of the use of this last name dates back to 1359, belonging to a Thomas Cappellen found in official registers from the town of Guise, Belgium. Another record found in 1489 in the same town, this time belonging to a Pieter Cappellen, further supports its use in the area centuries ago.
More recently, the last name has had a presence in the military. In 1872, Henri Cappellen was a General in the Belgian military, and received the 'Order of Leopold' and 'Order of Leopold II' for his service.
Today, although there are no exact statistics, it is thought that over 10,000 people in Belgium carry the last name Cappellen.
Variations of the surname Cappellen
The surname Cappellen is a habitational surname of Dutch origin. It is derived from the town of Cappellen, which was in an old Dutch coastal province called Zeeland. It is an ancient name with many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.
The most common spelling of Cappellen is Cappelen. Other variants include Cappelmans, Cappels, Cappes, Cappellemans, Cappen, Kappelen, Kappels, Kappes, Kappelemans and Kapelsen. Through various spellings, the surname is still mostly found in the Netherlands, Germany, and other Germanic countries.
The spelling of Cappellen can also be changed to take other spelling patterns. For example, the names Cappel, Kapel, Kappell, and Kappelle all take the same root, but have been altered to reflect the language and culture of the region of origin.
Variations of Cappellen can also be found in other languages. For example, in French the name is spelled Capel; in Spanish, the name is Capelan; in Italian, the name is Capucella; and in some Scandinavian countries, the name is spelled Kapellen.
Although all of the variations are related, each variant has its own distinct history and stories, which often originated from the original spelling of the Cappellen surname. Ultimately, regardless of the spelling variation, all variations can be traced back to the Dutch town of Cappellen.
Famous people with the name Cappellen
- Patrick Cappellen: a fashion designer from Belgium
- Stephen Cappellen: a professional American football running back
- Baron Thomas Cappellen van Vlierden: Belgian nobleman and former Member of the Imperial Council of the Austrian Empire
- Lucas Cappellen: Belgian rapper
- Ivo Cappellen: former member of the federal parliament of Belgium
- Simon Cappellen: Rugby player from Belgium
- Justine Cappellen: author of ‘Quotable Quotes for Kids’
- Jo Cappellen: Dutch actor
- Anmani Cappellen: Dutch YouTube production editor
- Constantin Cappellen: Austrian entrepreneur and CEO of CA Group AG