Surname Kappels - Meaning and Origin
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Kappels: What does the surname Kappels mean?
The last name Kappels is of German origin and is believed to be an occupational surname. The term 'Kappel' is derived from the Low German language and was used to describe someone who worked at a chapel as a chaplain or church administrator, or someone who worked at a cloister as a monk.
The Kappels surname may also refer to someone who carved religious sculptures and woodwork for churches, such as altars or statues of saints and other religious figures. This interpretation of the surname is further supported by the variation of Kappels, which is Kappeller, which means wood-carver in Dutch.
The last name Kappels also has a familial component to it, as in those times many families tended to take the surname of their forefathers in an effort to denote their familial origin. Thus, those families with the surname Kappels would most likely have a direct connection to those that once served a religious purpose in Germany.
Variations of the Kappels surname include Kappel, Kappell, Kappeler, Kappeller, Kuppels, Kupels, and Kueppel. Those with the surname Kappels could be found mainly in the former German speaking areas of Prussia, Bavaria and Austria, but there were also Kappels households in other parts of Europe such as the Netherlands, Belgium, and Switzerland. In recent eras, the surname Kappels has mainly been found in the United States and Canada as many of those with the surname came to America during the 19th century.
Order DNA origin analysisKappels: Where does the name Kappels come from?
The last name Kappels is common primarily in Germany, particularly in the northwest and in the state of Bavaria, as well as in other European countries and parts of Russia. It is also found in the United States, where it is most commonly found in the Midwest, most likely because of German immigration to these areas in the 19th century.
In Germany, the name is especially common in the cities of Bremen, Hamburg, Pomerania, and Silesia. It may have originated as an occupational surname for a clockmaker, derived from the name "Kloppels." It can also be an abbreviated form of "Kapelle," which is a type of small chapel, or a former place of worship now serving a different purpose.
The Kappels can also be found in other countries, such as the Netherlands, France, Belgium, and Sweden. In the United States, the largest concentrations of Kappels can be found in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Ohio. Those with the surname can also be found in Australia, New Zealand, and other countries throughout the world.
The occurrence of the name has decreased slightly over time, probably due to increased migration and the fluid nature of modern society, but it is still relatively common and can still be found in many places.
Variations of the surname Kappels
The surname Kappels is derived from the German word “kappel” which means chapel, and as such, the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Kappels have the same chapel-based meanings.
Variants of the surname Kappels include Kappel, Kapell, Kappl, Kappell, Kappell, Kapplen, Kappller, Kappelmann, Kaupel, Koppel, Kappeler, Kappelmann, Kappen, Kappenhoff, Kopp, Koppen, Koppmann, Koppler, and Koppeler.
In the United States, Kappels often appears as Koppel, and variations of this spelling like Kapple, Kapel, Kapl, Kaplow, and Kopple.
In Scotland, variants of the name Kappels often appear as a softer ‘C’ sound instead of a hard ‘K’ sound for example, Capel, Capple, and Coppen.
In Germany, the variants of Kappels include Kapelle, Kapeller, Kappes, Kappl, Koppel, Koppelmann, Koppen, Koppler, Köppen, and Köppel.
In the Netherlands, variants of the name Kapel include Kappel, Kappell, Kappelen, Kapphler, and Kapplmann.
In parts of England, variants of the name Capell include Capple, and Caples.
In Italy, the surname Kappel can be found as copello.
In Austria, forms of the name Kappel include Kappel, Kapeller, and Koppel.
In Finland, names related to Kappels include Kappel and Kappelinen.
In Canada, variants of the surname Kappels include Kapel, Kappel, Kappler, and Koppel.
In Russia, variants of the surname Kappels include Kapel and Koppel.
In Brazil, surnames related to Kappels can appear as Kappel and Kapelle.
In France, the surname Kappels is often spelled as Caples.
Famous people with the name Kappels
- Matthias Kappel: former German footballer
- Adelheid Kappels: figure skater
- Klaus Kappels: CEO of German global company Wabco
- Ruth Kappels-Heller: German Olympic rower
- Yannick Kappels: German professional footballer
- Georg Kappels: Swiss football coach
- Fritz Kappels: German olympic runner
- Willi Kappels: German painter
- Peter Kappels: Austrian professional football player
- Erwin Kappels: German real estate mogul
- Anja Kappels: German curler
- Günter Kappels: German visual artist
- Dieter Kappels: German water polo player
- Hermann Kappels: German rower
- Rainer Kappels: German composer
- Maria Kappels: German author
- Jeannette Kappels: German racing cyclist
- Guido Kappels: German politician
- Christoph Kappels: German cyclist
- Alfred Kappels: German healthcare executive