Show ContentsCaplis History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Caplis

What does the name Caplis mean?

Caplis is one of the thousands of new names that the Norman Conquest brought to England in 1066. The Caplis family lived in Herefordshire. The name refers to the family's former residence in La Chapelle, Normandy.

Early Origins of the Caplis family

The surname Caplis was first found in Herefordshire where another source claims that name was derived from "the ancestor of Lord Albemarle [who] was Arnord-Joost van Keppel, lord of Voerst, a descendant of one of the most ancient houses in Guerlderland, [Holland] who accompanied King WIlliam III to England in 1688, and was by him advanced to the title still enjoyed by the family. According to 'Folks of Shields,' the name is equivalent to De Capella." 1

Early History of the Caplis family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Caplis research. Another 88 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1496, 1503, 1511, 1515, 1585, 1586, 1608, 1631, 1638, 1649, 1656, 1658, 1683, 1696, 1697, 1722, 1739 and 1743 are included under the topic Early Caplis History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Caplis Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Capel, Capell, Caple, Cappel, Keppel and others.

Early Notables of the Caplis family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was William Capel (d. 1515), Sheriff of the City of London (1496), and Lord Mayor of London (1503), Member of Parliament for the City of London (1511-1515), his mansion stood on the current site of the London Stock Exchange, eponym of No. 3 Capel Court; Sir Henry Capell, of Rayne Hall, Essex; Louis Cappel (1585-1658), a French Protestant churchman and scholar; Richard Capel (1586-1656), an English nonconforming clergyman of Calvinist views, member of the Westminster Assembly, and for a period of his life...
Another 90 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Caplis Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Caplis family to Ireland

Some of the Caplis 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.

Migration of the Caplis family

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Caplis or a variant listed above: William Cappell who settled in Virginia in 1635; John Cappell settled in Virginia in 1656; Thomas Cappells settled in Virginia in 1720.



The Caplis Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Fide et fortitudine
Motto Translation: By fidelity and fortitude.


  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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