Surname von Cappeln - Meaning and Origin
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von Cappeln: What does the surname von Cappeln mean?
The surname von Cappeln is of German origin and is a habitational name, meaning it is derived from the place where an ancestor originated.
The suffix "von" suggests the original name was Cappeln, named for a small village in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. A variation of the name "Cappeln" may include "Kappeln." "Kappeln" was a common place-name denoting an uninhabited or unpopulated area, typically near a church.
The meaning behind the word “Cappeln” could be derived from the old German word “Kappel” meaning “a chapel or small church”, likely referencing a chapel near the village which bore the family name. Alternatively, it could derive from the Old German word “Knappe,” meaning a male servant or attendant.
It is likely the family von Cappeln was an ancient and noble family who originated in North Rhine-Westphalia, but the villages they were connected to may have changed over time, leading to the name variation.
The von Cappeln surname would have been given to a person of high social status and can still be found in North Rhine-Westphalia today.
Order DNA origin analysisvon Cappeln: Where does the name von Cappeln come from?
The last name Von Cappeln is most commonly found in Germany today. It is believed that the name was derived from the Old German words 'cappel' and 'cappeln', which literally translates to mean chapel or churches. Von Cappeln is an occupational name referring to a person who resided near or worked at one of these chapels or churches.
Although the surname is most prevalent in Germany, due to migration over the centuries it is also found in other countries around the world. In Europe, it is widely found in countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, and the Czech Republic, as well as in other parts of continental Europe.
The name is also found in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other parts of the English-speaking diaspora. For example, it was reported in 1914 that there were 449 people with the name Von Cappeln living in the US that year alone.
The Von Cappeln family still have a presence in Germany today, and are believed to have connections with various towns including Chemnitz, Zwickau, Reichenbach, and Cologne. Throughout history, members of this family have played notable roles in society, with a number of them rising to become political leaders, military generals, religious figures, and lawyers.
Today, the last name Von Cappeln is often associated with families who can trace their heritage to one of these areas, and who still preserve their traditional German culture.
Variations of the surname von Cappeln
Von Cappeln is a surname of origins hailing from the large area of Germany stretching from the Rhine in the West to the Oder River in the East. The word is derived from two words ‘capul’ meaning ‘head’ or ‘top’ and ‘eln’ meaning ‘meadow’. The completely original and unified spelling of von Cappeln is very rare as it spread to many other language variants according to the geographical region into which the newcomer moved and settled. Nonetheless, some of the variants and lesser known spellings of the surname von Cappeln include: Cappeln, Kappeln, Kappelin, Kaapelin, Kappel, Kappelle, Kaapel, Capel, Kapel, Caapelen, Kabel, Kapelle, Kapelen, Capile, Chapelle, Caapel, Caepel, Kaapelen, Chapiley, Cappello, Chapily, Capelen, Capple, Capply, Kapil, Capelby, Capelon, Caipill, Kapple, and Kappler.
The surname is also associated with many other deriving surnames which bear the same origin, but with slight differences. These can include Cappelmann, Cappeler, Cappelen, Cappelhoff, Cappellhorst, Capperloni, Kappelhauer, Kappelhoffe, Kappelmeyer, Kappeln, Kappelmann, andKapeln.
Though von Cappeln is a very rare surname in its original form, it is scattered across the world in various spellings due to the geographical movements of the original lineage bearer. Despite the variant spellings, the overall origin of the name and the associated family members holds true to a single source.
Famous people with the name von Cappeln
- Alex von Cappeln—German entrepreneur and investor.
- Sebastian von Cappeln—American actor and model.
- Deborah von Cappeln—U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg (2013-2017).
- Uwe von Cappeln—German entrepreneur, media consultant, and CEO.
- Andreas von Cappeln—professor of European Union Law at the University of Erfurt.
- Jakob von Cappeln—19th century Swiss painter.
- Anna von Cappeln—German modern artist and sculptor.
- Markus von Cappeln—German entrepreneur in the technology industry.
- Herwig von Cappeln—Swiss actor.
- James J. von Cappeln—American law professor and author.