Show ContentsChapan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Chapan family name dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. The name comes from when an early member worked as a chaplain, the minister of a sanctuary or church. The name is derived from the Latin word capellanus 1

Early Origins of the Chapan family

The surname Chapan was first found in Hampshire where the oldest record of the name was Albert Chapelain, who was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as a tenant in chief and the king's chaplain. 1

Early History of the Chapan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chapan research. Another 196 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1559, 1591, 1598, 1634, 1659, 1660, 1672, 1675, 1677 and 1696 are included under the topic Early Chapan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chapan Spelling Variations

Chapan has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Chapan have been found, including Chaplin, Chaplins, Chapline, Chaplyn, Cheplain, Chaplain, Chaiplin, Caplin, Caplines, Keplaine and many more.

Early Notables of the Chapan family

Notables of the family at this time include Sir Francis Chaplin; Thomas Chaplin (1591-1672), an English draper and politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1659 and 1660; and Samuel...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Chapan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Chapan family

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Chapans to arrive on North American shores: Hugh Chaplin from Bradford, Yorkshire, who settled in Rowley, Maine in 1638. His son settled in Attelborough, Massachusetts. Clement Chaplin settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1635.



  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.


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