Show ContentsChapeaux History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Old French word "Chaput" was a type of chopping block that was used to work slate and create different shapes. The name Chaput was originally given to carpenters. 1

Early Origins of the Chapeaux family

The surname Chapeaux was first found in Forez, a former province of France, now part of the modern Loire, the Haute-Loire and Puy-de-Dôme departments, where they have held a family seat since the 1100's.

By the beginning of the 12th century the family was well established in the region of Forez and several members of this important family made a distinctive contribution to the community in which they lived and were rewarded with lands, titles, and letters patent confirming their nobility.

Claude Chapuis is recorded as the Lord of Condrieu and in 1109, as reward for his great contribution both culturally and religiously, he received the permission to construct the chapel of Saint Martin in honour of the family.

Early History of the Chapeaux family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chapeaux research. Another 250 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1389, 1536, 1630, 1641, 1667, 1696 and 1710 are included under the topic Early Chapeaux History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chapeaux Spelling Variations

Throughout the course of history most surnames have undergone changes for many reasons. During the early development of the French language, a son and father may not have chosen to spell their name the same way. Many are simple spelling changes by a person who gave his name, phonetically, to a scribe, priest, or recorder. Many names held prefixes or suffixes which became optional as they passed through the centuries, or were adopted by different branches to signify either a political or religious adherence. Hence, we have many spelling variations of this name, Chapeaux some of which are Chaput, Chapue, Chapud, Chapus, Chapout, Chapoue, Chapoud, Chapous, Chapput, Chappue, Chappud, Chappus, Chappout, Chappoue, Chappoud, Chappous, Shaput, Shapue, Shapus, Shapout, Shapoue, Shapoud, Shappous, Shapput, Shappue, Shappud, Shappus, Shappout, Shappoue, Shappoud, Shappous, Chapuis, Chapus and many more.

Early Notables of the Chapeaux family

More information is included under the topic Early Chapeaux Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Chapeaux family

In 1643, 109 years after the first landings by Cartier, there were only about 300 people in Quebec. Migration was slow. The fur trade attracted migrants, both noble and commoner. By 1675, there were 7000 French in Quebec. By the same year the French Acadian presence in the Maritimes had reached 500. The French founded Lower Canada, thus becoming one of the two great founding nations of Canada. The family name Chapeaux has made many distinguished contributions in France and New France to the world of science, culture, religion, and education. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Chapeaux were Nicolas Chaput married Angélique Loisel in Québec in 1716; Jean-Baptiste Chaput, son of Nicolas and Angélique Gauthier married Agathe Thouin, daughter of Germain and Madeleine Beaudoin in Qué.



  1. Dionne, N.-E., Origine Des Familles Canadiennes-Français. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1969. Print.


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