Surname Vandercapelle - Meaning and Origin
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Vandercapelle: What does the surname Vandercapelle mean?
The cognomen Vandercapelle is of Belgian origin and is assumed to refer to a place in or around the Belgian commune of West Flanders. It likely derives from a combination of "vanden" (of the) and "capelle" (chapel). From a linguistic perspective, this places it in the class of topographic surnames, which were acquired by individuals and families who lived nearby a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree, or a place of natural vegetation.
The exact origin of Vandercapelle is uncertain, as it may have been taken from a local landmark. It could have been derived from a prominent family in a certain area or even an owner of land or property near a chapel, such as the Chapel of St. Peter near the beachfront in Koksijde of West Flanders.
The name has been present in various parts of Belgium for centuries. It first appears in 1501, when a John Vandercapelle in Nuytschales established a guild in Sint-Ambocie. Over time, the Vandercapelle family spread throughout the region.
Vandercapelle is still quite popular in Belgium. It is often shortened to Vandercap to appear more modern or distinct, but the original spelling is preferred among many families. The name serves to tie individuals to a certain area and connect them with their roots in the Belgian countryside.
Order DNA origin analysisVandercapelle: Where does the name Vandercapelle come from?
The last name Vandercapelle is most commonly found in Belgium today. The name is derived from two Old Dutch words: "Vander" meaning from and "Capelle" meaning chapel. This indicates the family may have originated from a village where a chapel once stood.
Over time, the name has gone through various changes and common spellings are today Vandercappelle, Vandercapelle, and Vandecapelle.
Vandercapelle is most tightly associated with Belgium with over 1,000 people in the country bearing the name. Further research suggests the Vandercappelle have been in Belgium for centuries and likely started in the sixteenth century when Dutch immigrants began to move to the country as part of the Dutch colonization.
The prevalence of the last name is highest in the Flemish Region of Belgium and in the provinces of West Flanders and Brabant Wallon, with smaller numbers found in East Flanders and the Brussels-Capital Region. It is likely that over the centuries the Vandercappelle family spread throughout the flat Dutch-speaking region of Flanders and near neighbouring French-speaking Wallonia.
Searches also suggest that the surname is not only found in Belgium, but also in The Netherlands, France, Germany, Canada, the United States, India, and Australia.
It appears that a majority of those with the surname still live in Belgium, with smaller populations found in the hybrid French-Dutch region of Wallonia, and in several other countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Vandercapelle
The surname Vandercapelle is a name of Dutch origin, likely denoting a person from the town of Vandercapelle. Variants of the surname include Vandercappelle, Vandercapple, Vander Capelle, Vancapelle, Vanderkapple, and Vanderkappel. It is also found as Van Der Capelle, Van Der Capellen, Van der Kaapel, Vandercaapel, Vandercap, and Vanderkaapel.
There are several alternate spellings and surnames of the same origin as the Vandercapelle surname. For example, KafVanDercapelle and KafvanderCapelle are two alternate spellings that are derived from the original surname. KaapvanderCapelle, VanderKapelle, and KaapvanderKapelle are Dutch variants of the surname.
The surname also has variants in other languages. For example, the German variants of the surname are Vanderkapp and Van der Kappel. Vanderkop and Kappenberg are Dutch surname variants, while Van der Capelle is a French surname variant. The Italian variant of the name is Caldercapelle, and the Portuguese variant is Arvoredoio.
As with other surnames, the Vandercapelle surname is subject to change across countries and even different generations. For example, the name may change from Vandercapelle to Vander Capelle or Vandercappelle when a person moves to a country with a different language. Additionally, different spelling variations may become more or less popular depending on the region, culture, and even family history.
Famous people with the name Vandercapelle
- Jan Vandercapelle, former Alanbrooke Chair of War Studies at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, UK.
- Stijn Vandercapelle, Belgian discus thrower.
- Inge Van Der Cappellen, Belgian artist.
- Lorenzo Vandercapelle, Italian doctor of philosophy.
- Victoria Vandercapelle, television reporter.
- Ria Vandercapelle, Dutch radio personality.
- Audrey Vandercapelle, Belgian beauty pageant winner.
- Mark Vandercapelle, Belgian footballer.
- Michelle Vandercapelle, Belgian lawyer and speaker.
- James Vandercapelle, Belgian actor.