Surname Chapel - Meaning and Origin
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Chapel: What does the surname Chapel mean?
The surname Chapel is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from the Old English word "ceap", which means "market" and "heall", which refers to a bigger dwelling or a hall. So, it can be interpreted as "Market Hall". It was initially used to signify someone who lived near a market hall or worked there. Another derivation suggests that it could also come from the Middle English term, "chapel" which refers to a sanctuary or place of worship. In this context, the name would have been given to a person who lived by a chapel or perhaps served there. Like many surnames from this era, it was based on a person's occupation or location. Keep in mind that the interpretation of surname meanings can vary because they often developed organically in different locations rather than adhering to formal rules.
Order DNA origin analysisChapel: Where does the name Chapel come from?
The surname Chapel is of English origin and is believed to be a locational name, derived from residences near a chapel. It originates from the Old French "chapel", which means a chapel or sanctuary. It was later incorporated into Middle English as "chepel". Individuals or families would have been identified by such distinctive local features which eventually became their surname. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Alan de Chapple in 1248 in the "Assize Court Rolls of Somerset", during the reign of King Henry III of England.
Today, the surname Chapel is still present in the United Kingdom but it isn't confined there. Due to significant waves of emigration, especially during times of political and economic hardship, the surname has spread and is also found in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. In particular, the United States has a large population of individuals carrying the Chapel surname, making it a relatively common name there. However, compared to other globally prevalent surnames, Chapel is still considered relatively unique.
Variations of the surname Chapel
The surname Chapel has multiple variants, spellings, and similar origin names. These variations often occurred due to a multitude of reasons such as regional accents, different translations, or even simple spelling errors. The different spellings can include Chapell, Chappel, Chappell, and Chapple.
There are also some closely similar names derived from the same origin, such as Capel, Kapel, Caepell, or Capell. In some cases, suffixes are added to the base name, creating derivatives like Chapelle, Chapelon, Chapelin, and Chapellier.
The surname has roots in Old English and Old French. It originally referred to someone who lived near a chapel or worked in one, deriving from the Old French 'chapel', which means chapel. Over time, it spread to various countries, often being adapted to fit local languages and dialects.
Another variant could be the Spanish 'Capilla', the Italian 'Cappella', or the German 'Kapelle', all translating to the word chapel. A few more variations from Europe could include Chapelier from France, Kapell from Sweden, and Kapelle from Germany.
Please note that while these names are similar, specific ancestry or familial relation should be verified using genealogical records.
Famous people with the name Chapel
- Elvis Chapel: former Malaysian professional footballer
- Eddie Chapel: Australian rules football player from the 1940s
- Melanie Chapel: American actress
- Andrew Chapel: Canadian actor
- Jackie Chapel: British musician and singer-songwriter
- Nick Chapel: American rapper and songwriter
- Frank Chapel: American football player from the 1950s
- Grace Chapel: British actress
- David Chapel: retired American jazz musician
- Martin Chapel: British television presenter