Surname Sapels - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Sapels: What does the surname Sapels mean?
The last name Sapels is believed to be of Germanic origin. It is thought to have originated as a nickname for a person who was generous with their money or goods, as the word sapels translates to "sharing." This type of name is called an occupational surname, given to people who practiced a certain profession or provided a specific service.
Sapels may also have originated from a place name originating from locations near the Swabian village of Sapelau in the 14th century. The location is probably derived from the Old German words “sapel” for post and “au” meaning meadow or field; making a place name that means ”post in the meadow.”
In the 17th century, many people bearing the Sapels name chose to migrate to America, mostly settling in Pennsylvania and Maryland. It has since spread out even further across the United States.
The Sapels last name is likely to have both an occupational origin and a geographical origin, meaning it has dual significance. Occupational names, especially those about being generous, are symbolic of the generosity and helpfulness that is often attributed to these types of families. Similarly, those with a geographical origin represent a connection to a specific area, and is often symbolic of loyalty and belonging felt by those with the Sapels last name.
Order DNA origin analysisSapels: Where does the name Sapels come from?
The surname Sapels is most commonly found in the United Kingdom, particularly in the East Anglia region. In addition to this, Sapels can also be found in Ireland and the United States. This is due to the large number of people with Irish heritage who have made their home there over the years.
It is likely that the ancestral roots of Sapel descendents are the ancient Saxons, who are believed to have arrived in Britain from northern Germany over a thousand years ago. After several centuries of settlement and warfare, the Saxon territory shrank and different areas of Britain such as East Anglia became the focus for the family. This is reflected in the spread of Sapel descendants around the world today.
In the 21st century, the name Sapels is not particularly widespread, however, it is becoming more noticeable as members of the family travel and move to new places. There appears to be some branches of the Sapels family in the United States, Canada, Australia, Venezuela, and across Europe too.
Altogether, the Sapels name has been documented for centuries and, while not particularly widespread today, it remains firmly entrenched in the British Isles. Its ancestral roots and relative rarity make it an interesting name to study and trace its history further.
Variations of the surname Sapels
The surname Sapels is believed to have several different variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Sables, Sabeles, Sibbel, Sebbel, Sapeles, Sapales, Sapalas, Sapples, Sapples, Sopples and Soppels.
The spelling and pronunciation of Sauce varies between different languages and countries. In Spanish the surname Sapels is spelled Sabeles and is pronounced with a Spanish 'schwa' where the 'e' is almost silent. The French language variant of the same surname is Sapales which is pronounced with a soft 'a' sound as in 'ah'.
In the United Kingdom and the United States, the surname Sapels is usually anglicized as Sables. This variation has been further adapted to include spellings such as Sibbel, Sebbel and Sapples, where the 'a' has been replaced with an 'i' or 'e' sound.
Other forms of the surname Sapels which are rarely used in the United States include Sapalas, Sopples and Soppels. These spellings are most common in Eastern and Southern European countries, especially those which were formerly part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Soviet Union.
The Sapels surname is believed to have originated from the Middle Latin word, sapalis, which translates to “little ponds or pools”. This origin is often reflected in the surname’s spelling variations and spellings derived from other languages where the ‘s’ has been replaced with a ‘z’.
Overall, the surname Sapels has many variations, spellings and surnames which are believed to have the same origin. These range from Spanish and French spellings to adaptations of the surname in different countries to reflect the language and cultural references used in those regions.
Famous people with the name Sapels
- Cheryl Sapels: Canadian ice sledge hockey player
- Philip Sapels: Polka music composer, performer, and promoter
- Henrici Sapels: Dutch tenor and actor
- Maria Sapels: Russian photographer and actress
- Johann Sapels: German composer, conductor and pianist
- Carol Sapels: Puerto Rican actress and musician
- Marc Sapels: Belgian film and television actor
- Aracely Sapells: Salvadoran politician
- Singaporean author and artist, Irina Sapels
- Mihai Sapels: Romanian athlete and media celebrity