Surname Kapelt - Meaning and Origin
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Kapelt: What does the surname Kapelt mean?
The last name Kapelt is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word ‘kapelle’, meaning ‘chapel’. It is believed that the name developed as an occupational name for somebody who worked at a chapel or church, or someone who lived near one. The surname could also refer to an individual who had a strong devotion to religious life and was associated with a chapel or small church.
It is thought that the Kapelt surname began appearing during the Medieval Period around the year 1200, and became more common in the 1600s. It likely originated in the Rhineland regions of Germany and is most popular in the lower central area of the country. Throughout history members of the Kapelt name have been recorded in many ancient manuscripts, such as the Compendium of Middle High German Language from 1458 and Ulm’s Urkundenbuch in 1431.
Today the Kapelt name is found all over the world, however there are particularly noticeable concentrations in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and other areas of Europe. It is one of the many surnames that have been spread around the world throughout history and is a distinctive and unique identifier of a person’s ancestry.
Order DNA origin analysisKapelt: Where does the name Kapelt come from?
The last name Kapelt is most commonly found in Germany today. It is a surname thats originates from the northern regions of Germany, likely the city of Oldenburg located in the state of Lower Saxony. It is believed that the name in the Middle Ages was derived from someone who lived near a chapel.
The surname Kapelt is one of the most popular names in Germany, currently ranking in the top 2,000 surnames with an estimated 7,000 bearers. It has been used for several centuries, but is largely concentrated in the areas that lie close to Oldenburg. Areas such as Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia, Saxony, Brandenburg, and Rhineland-Palatinate have particularly large numbers of Kapelt bearers.
The surname can also be found in other areas of the world, with a few bearers living in the United States and Canada, as well as various other countries in Europe and elsewhere. In the US, Kapelt can also be found in the states of California, Utah, Pennsylvania, and New York.
Although the surname is most common in Germany today, it still has a strong presence in Germany's neighbouring countries, such as the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark, as well as in countries in other parts of the world, making it a truly global surname.
Variations of the surname Kapelt
The surname Kapelt is thought to have originated from Germany and is of German origin. The variants, spellings and surnames of Kapelt include Kapell, Kappell, Kappelt, Kapperl, Kapellen, Kappeil, Kapellmann, Kappelmann, Kapelmann, Kappel, Kapel, Koppel, Kappell, Koppel, Kapelmann, Koppell, Kappellmann and Kappelman.
Kapelt is believed to be an occupational surname, being an alternative spelling of the word “Konzertmeister”, which is a term used in Germany to describe a leader of an orchestra. It is thought that the Kapelt surname developed from this and is a generic term indicating a person or family involved in music.
Kapelt has had many alternative spellings over the years as family names were transcribed from German into English, with the various spellings indicating regional dialects. Some of the variants, likely pertaining to North and South Germany, include Kapell (north), Kappell (south), Kappelt (north), and Kapperl (south).
Other Kapelt variants can be found in the various spellings that include the letter “e”, with the “e” being added to indicate a particular regional dialect. These include Kapellen (north), Kappellmann (south), Kapellmann (north), Kappelmann (south), Kappel (north), Kapel (south), and Koppel (south).
In addition to the various German spellings, other surnames that are similar to Kapelt include Kappellmann (Austrian), Kappelmann (Swiss), Kapelmann (Slavic) and Kappelman (Yiddish). These last few names indicate that the Kapelt surname may have spread over time into other Eastern European countries.
Famous people with the name Kapelt
- Mark Kapeltop: Mark is a German sprinter who competed in the 1956 and 1960 Summer Olympics and won several national titles during his career.
- Thijs Kapelt: Thijs is a Dutch footballer who plays for NAC Breda in the Eredivisie.
- Eline Kapelt: Eline is a Dutch actress and model who has featured in several television shows and movies.
- Javier Kapeltza: Javier is a Spanish professional basketball player who plays for Enriko Basket Martos and has been in the ACB league since 2014.
- Lisette Kapelt: Lisette is a Dutch visual artist who has exhibited her works internationally and participated in numerous group shows.
- Robert Kapelt: Robert is a Dutch singer and songwriter who has produced and released several solo albums.
- Joseph Kapelt: Joseph is an American professional golfer who has won in the PGA Tour Champions and the Champions Tour.
- Carmelia Kapelt: Carmelia is a German classical pianist and music professor at the Martin-Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg.
- Dr. Karl Kapelt: Karl is a German-Salvadoran doctor, author and biologist, who has made several important discoveries and conducted numerous studies in the fields of oncology and genetics.
- Madeline Kapelt: Madeline is an American fashion designer, artist, and entrepreneur who is best known for her bold contemporary designs.