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Show ContentsChapple History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The origins of the Chapple name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived near the chapel, The surname Chapple is a topographic surname, which is a type of surname that was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. In this case the Chapple family were dwellers by the churchyard. 1 2 3

Early Origins of the Chapple family

The surname Chapple was first found in various counties and shires throughout Britain. The earliest record of the family appears to be John Chapel who was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk in 1202. 4 Later the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Hugh de la Chapele in Nottinghamshire. 1

During the reign of Edward I., Thomas de la Chapele was listed in Northumberland and John atte Chapele was listed in Somerset. 5 William a la Chapele was listed in the Feet of Fines Rolls about the same time. Richard de la Chapele was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296. 4 The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list Johannes del Chapell. 1

Further to the north in Scotland, the name has the same origin, but early records there show the name as more of an occupational name from "the office of usher of the king's chapel, that is, Chancery, was hereditary in a family called from the office de Capella, and was attached to a third part of the lands of Craigmillar. In 1328 there is entry of wages of the boys of William de Capella. John de Capella possessed Craigmillar after the Craigmillars, and in 1374 the lands were purchased from them again by Sir Simon Preston. Little is known of this John de Capella. " 6

Early History of the Chapple family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chapple research. Another 125 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1374, 1569, 1579, 1582, 1588, 1649, 1677, 1728, 1729, 1737, 1745, 1746, 1775, 1795, 1812, 1826, 1830, 1834, 1838, 1840 and 1855 are included under the topic Early Chapple History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chapple Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Chapple were recorded, including Chapel, Chappell, Chappel, Chappelle, Chapele, Chapell, Chapple and many more.

Early Notables of the Chapple family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • William Chapple (1677-1745), English judge, was one of the Chapples of Waybay House, Dorsetshire. "About 1728 he was appointed a judge on the North Wales circuit, and in 1729 was knighted and made kin...

Chapple Ranking

In the United States, the name Chapple is the 9,356th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 7

Ireland Migration of the Chapple family to Ireland

Some of the Chapple family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Chapple migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Chapple family emigrate to North America:

Chapple Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Phyllis Chapple, who settled in Virginia in 1663
Chapple Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Jonathan Chapple, who landed in Bermuda in 1743 8
  • Elizabeth Chapple, who settled in New England in 1770
Chapple Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. Jane Chapple, (b. 1806), aged 42, Cornish settler departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Cornwall" arriving in the United States on 18th October 1848 9
  • Miss Matilda Chapple, (b. 1835), aged 13, Cornish settler departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Cornwall" arriving in the United States on 18th October 1848 9
  • Miss Elizabeth Chapple, (b. 1839), aged 9, Cornish settler departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Cornwall" arriving in the United States on 18th October 1848 9
  • Miss Mary Chapple, (b. 1841), aged 7, Cornish settler departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Cornwall" arriving in the United States on 18th October 1848 9
  • Mr. James Chapple, (b. 1843), aged 5, Cornish settler departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Cornwall" arriving in the United States on 18th October 1848 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Chapple migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Chapple Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Jesse M Chapple, who arrived in Canada in 1831

Australia Chapple migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Chapple Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Abraham Chapple, English convict who was convicted in Essex, England for life, transported aboard the "Aurora" on 18th June 1835, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 10
  • John Chapple, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Aboukir" in 1847 11
  • John Chapple, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Spartan" in 1849 12
  • Miss Jane Chapple, (b. 1833), aged 19, Cornish domestic servant departing from Plymouth on 7th July 1852 aboard the ship "Sir Edward Parry" arriving in Geelong, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 23rd October 1852 13
  • Mr. John Chapple, (b. 1834), aged 20, Cornish agricultural labourer departing from Plymouth on 27th February 1854 aboard the ship "Parsee" arriving in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 9th June 1854 13
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Chapple migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Chapple Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • James Chapple, aged 30, a cabinet maker, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Birman" in 1842
  • Maria Chapple, aged 28, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Birman" in 1842
  • James Chapple, aged 7, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Birman" in 1842
  • John Chapple, aged 21, a carpenter, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" in 1842
  • Mr. John Chapple, (b. 1821), aged 21, British carpenter travelling from London aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" arriving in Nelson, South Island, New Zealand on 28th October 1842 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Chapple (post 1700) +

  • David Thayer Chapple (b. 1947), American artist and former professional football player
  • William D. Chapple (b. 1868), American Republican politician, Member of Massachusetts State House of Representatives, 1897-99; Member of Massachusetts State Senate Second Essex District, 1905-06 15
  • Simon J. Chapple, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Delegate to Michigan State Constitutional Convention from Wayne County 15th District, 1961 15
  • John C. Chapple, American Republican politician, Member of Wisconsin State Assembly from Ashland County, 1909-10, 1917-20, 1943-46 15
  • John Bowman Chapple (1899-1989), American politician, Representative from Wisconsin 10th District, 1960 15
  • Henry H. Chapple, American politician, Mayor of Billings, Montana, 1897-98; Resigned 1898 15
  • William Chapple (1718-1781), English topographer, born at Witheridge in Devonshire in January 1717–1718, son of a farmer who had fallen through the pressure of misfortune into poverty, and the boy's education was consequently limited to the plainest rudiments of knowledge 16
  • Geoff Chapple (b. 1946), English former football manager
  • Glen Chapple (b. 1974), English cricketer
  • Field Marshal Sir John Lyon Chapple GCB, CBE (1931-2022), British Army officer, Chief of the General Staff from 1988 to 1992
  • ... (Another 8 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  6. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  7. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  8. 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)
  9. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th August 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/aurora
  11. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ABOUKIR 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847Aboukir.htm
  12. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The SPARTAN 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Spartan.htm
  13. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_victoria.pdf
  14. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  15. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 1) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  16. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 25 Nov. 2019
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