Show ContentsKepple History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Kepple was brought to England in the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Kepple family lived in Herefordshire. The name refers to the family's former residence in La Chapelle, Normandy.

Early Origins of the Kepple family

The surname Kepple 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 Kepple family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kepple 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 Kepple History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kepple Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Kepple have been found, including Capel, Capell, Caple, Cappel, Keppel and others.

Early Notables of the Kepple 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 Kepple Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Kepple family to Ireland

Some of the Kepple 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 Kepple migration to the United States +

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Kepple were among those contributors:

Kepple Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Henry Kepple, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1761 [2]
  • James Kepple, who arrived in New England in 1771 [2]
  • Johan Kepple, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1798 [2]

Contemporary Notables of the name Kepple (post 1700) +

  • Minerva D. Kepple, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Massachusetts, 1924; Candidate for U.S. Representative from Massachusetts 15th District, 1926 [3]
  • George E. Kepple, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Texas, 1928, 1932, 1936 (alternate); Candidate for U.S. Representative from Texas 8th District, 1928 [3]


The Kepple 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.
  2. 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)
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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