Show ContentsCapp History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Capp

What does the name Capp mean?

Capp is one of the names that was brought to England in the wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Capp family lived in Lincolnshire. They were descended from Le Cappere of Ayncourt, in the bailiwick of Caux, Normandy. 1

Alternatively, the name could have been derived from an occupation as in 'the capper,' a maker or dealer in caps probably made of woollen cloth, though felt was used. 2 3

In the Feet of Fines the following was noted: "in the York Pageant amongst other crafts marched the 'cap-makers'; in the Chester Pageant the 'Cappers, Wyerdrawers, and Pynners'; in the Norwich Pageant the 'cappers, hatters'. "

Early Origins of the Capp family

The surname Capp was first found in Lincolnshire where they were granted lands by William the Conqueror, their liege Lord, for their assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. They were descended from Le Cappere of Ayncourt, in the bailiwick of Caux, and became Tenants in Chief in Lincolnshire, Northampton, and Cheshire. They assumed the name of Ballivia Domini Gaufridi de Capella.

The Hundredorum Rolls of 11273 listed: Symon le Cappere, Oxfordshire; John le Capiere, Oxfordshire; and Thomas le Capiere, Oxfordshire. 2

Early History of the Capp family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Capp research. Another 120 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Capp History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Capp Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Capp family name include Cappe, Capper, Cappar, Capps, Caps, Caper and others.

Early Notables of the Capp family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • Capper of Lincolnshire

Capp Ranking

In the United States, the name Capp is the 13,566th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4


Capp migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Capp family to immigrate North America:

Capp Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • William Capp, who landed in Virginia in 1663 5
Capp Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Michael Capp, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732 5
  • Frederich Capp, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732 5
  • Georg Friedrich Capp, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1732 5
  • Georg Martin Capp, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1737 5
Capp Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Joseph Capp, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 5
  • Charles Capp, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1849 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Capp (post 1700) +

  • Frank Capp (b. 1931), American jazz drummer 6
  • Thomas H. Capp, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1900 7
  • Otto Capp, American politician, Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives from Wayne County 1st District, 1948 7
  • David A. Capp, American politician, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, 1993 7

HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. John Arthur Capp, British Lead Cook (O), who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 8


  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  6. Frank Capp. (Retrieved 2011, January 20) Frank Capp. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Capp
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 23) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  8. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html


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