Surname Kapela - Meaning and Origin
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Kapela: What does the surname Kapela mean?
Kapela is primarily a Slavic surname, most often found within Poland, Czech Republic, and Slovakia. Deriving from the Polish and Czech word "Kapel," meaning "choir," the surname Kapela typically indicated that the family had a relative or ancestor in a church choir. In the modern day, the surname Kapela still holds a spiritual significance, likely denoting traditional family values and religious views.
In terms of etymology, the root of the name Kapela is associated with two separate words. The first is "Kape," a Slavic word meaning ‘hood’ or ‘cape’. The second is the Czech word "kapella," meaning ‘choir or band’ or 'ceremonial hall.' Kapela can also refer to a small chapel, found in rural parts of the aforementioned countries.
Kapela is often found with various spelling variations, including Kabala, Koppel, Kabele, Kapel and Koppel. It is now a widely spread surname with several branches worldwide, however, Poland, Czech Republic, and Slovakia remain the most popular locations.
Historically, the surname Kapela was very common among rural populations and has become increasingly more widespread in the modern day. This suggests that the name was probably taken from a popular peasant family of a region, as opposed to a more powerful landed family who later adopted the name.
Today, the surname Kapela remains a distinctively Slavic name with strong links to spirituality, particularly Christianity. Its significant reminder of the power of community and family makes it an important part of the history of the Slavic people.
Order DNA origin analysisKapela: Where does the name Kapela come from?
The last name Kapela is a very old surname of Slavic origin and appears to be particularly common in Poland. It originated in the Middle Ages and is derived from the word 'kapelan', meaning 'chaplain' in Old Polish. Statistics from Poland suggest that the surname is most heavily represented today in the southwestern region of the country, particularly in the cities of Kraków, Katowice, and Zabrze. It is also found in other parts of the world where Polish immigrants settled, such as the US (especially in Chicago), the UK, and Chile.
Apart from Poland, Kapela can be found in other countries of Central and Eastern Europe, particularly in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Croatia. In these countries, the surname is less common than in Poland and is mainly concentrated in the large population centres. For instance, in the Czech Republic it is mostly present in the nation's capital Prague.
Another area where the surname is quite common is around the Carpathian mountains, comprising Romania, Moldova, and parts of the Ukraine. There are numerous families with the last name living in these parts today, suggesting the surname may have had a more spread out geography of distribution in the past.
Finally, the Kapela surname can be found fairly commonly in the Middle East, such as in Israel where it is mainly Jewish. This is due to Jewish families fleeing Poland or other areas of Central and Eastern Europe during times of persecution.
Variations of the surname Kapela
The surname Kapela is of Czech, Polish and Ukrainian origin and is said to derive from the word “kapel” meaning a small chapel. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include:
Kapella: This is the Czech spelling of the surname.
Kapel: This is an alternate spelling of the surname.
Kapella-Kowalska: This surname is derived from two surnames: Kapela and Kowalska, both of which have the same root words.
Kapłan: This is the Polish variation of the surname Kapela. It is derived from the same word meaning “small chapel”.
Kapil: This is an alternate spelling of the surname in the Ukraine.
Kapin: This variation is also found in the Ukraine.
Kapele: This is a spelling variant common among families from the Ukraine.
Kapelush: This is a rarely used spelling variant.
Kapella-Miller: This surname is derived from two surnames: Kapela and Miller, both of which have the same root words.
Kapelon: This is a rarely used spelling variation.
Kapeluk: This is another rarely used spelling variation of the surname.
Kapelaty: This is a variation found among families in the Ukraine.
Kapeluciak: This is a Polish spelling of the surname.
In addition to the spellings mentioned above, some families may also be known by the regional spellings Kapely, Kapłas, Kapełka, Kapelewicz, Kapicus, Kapijaty, and Kaprus. This is because families from different regions may have adopted different spellings. All of these variations, however, all share the same root word and are derived from the Czech, Polish, and Ukrainian word “kapel” meaning “small chapel”.
Famous people with the name Kapela
- Adam Kapela: Polish actor.
- Lukasz Kapela: Dutch singer.
- Adam Szymczyk: Polish film director.
- Piotr Kapela: Polish economist and business consultant.
- Dominik Kapela: Polish entrepreneur.
- Jacek Kapela: public intellectual and writer from Poland.
- Michal Kapela: Polish politician.
- Leonard Kapela: American professional football player.
- Jakub Kapela: Polish composer, musician, multi-instrumentalist, performer, and arranger.
- Gabriel Kapela: Argentine musician, artist, and photographer.
- Boleslaw Kapela: Polish mountain climber.
- Agata Kapela: Polish-American actress.
- Emilia Kapela: Polish singer and actor.
- Maciej Kapela: Polish football player and coach.
- Anika Kapela: Australian fashion designer.
- Pawel Kapela: Polish professional footballer.
- Liu Xiao-Kapela: Australian doctor and writer.
- Johnny Kapela: Swiss hip-hop artist.
- Sebastian Kapela: Polish businessman.
- Kaja Kapela: Croatian actress.