Surname Caplan - Meaning and Origin

Caplan: What does the surname Caplan mean?

The surname Caplan is of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, derived from the Yiddish word "kaplan" which means chaplain. The name was often given to descendants of a scholarly, religious, or rabbinical Jewish family. It also has been popular among Jewish families from Eastern Europe. Like many Ashkenazic Jewish surnames, Caplan would have been adopted relatively recently in history, likely in the late 18th or 19th centuries when many Jewish families were compelled by government mandates to take on permanent, hereditary surnames. Remember that name meanings can differ in various languages and cultures, and may have evolved or changed over time. Contributions from different cultures and languages have led to the rich diversity of surnames we have today. It's also important to note that surname meanings often provide contextual clues about the profession, looks, or residence of one's ancestors rather than something definitive about someone's immediate family or characteristics.

Caplan: Where does the name Caplan come from?

The surname Caplan is of Ashkenazi Jewish origin. It is derived from the Hebrew word "kohen", which means "priest". Specifically, it comes from the Yiddish term "kaplan", which means "little priest". The name likely identified someone who was a descendant of the Kohanim, a hereditary class of Jewish priests.

Following the wave of Jewish diaspora, the surname can now be found globally throughout Jewish communities. However, its prevalence can vary significantly. The name is quite common in the United States today. According to recent census data, the surname Caplan is most frequent in New York followed by California, New Jersey, and Florida. Other countries with noticeable populations of individuals bearing the surname Caplan include Israel, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Despite its widespread distribution, the surname Caplan is still relatively rare compared to other Jewish surnames. Thus, its occurrence can provide a potential clue to Jewish genealogical and historical roots.

Variations of the surname Caplan

The surname "Caplan" can trace its origin from the Jewish and Eastern European regions. Variants and alternate spellings of this surname may occur due to immigration and transliteration of the name from different alphabets. The surname originated from the Yiddish-German term "Kaplan," which means "chaplain." Therefore, there can be several spelling alternatives of the surname "Caplan".

Some of these alternates are Kaplan, Caplon, Caplain, Kaplon, Kepplin, and Capellin. More variations include Kaplin, Kaplinski, Kaplinsky, Kaplanski, and Kaplansky. In some cases, individuals might also use the surname "Chaplain" due to linguistic errors or personal preferences.

Remember, these variants could show up in different countries or among different communities due to language or cultural barriers. These spelling variations might have occurred due to emigration, where officials wrote the name phonetically or as they heard it, which caused a transliteration and transformation of the original surname. Furthermore, different branches of the Caplan family might choose to spell their name differently, leading to the emergence of more variants over time.

Famous people with the name Caplan

• Lizzy Caplan: Actress best known for her roles in Mean Girls, Cloverfield, Masters of Sex, and The Interview.
• Aliza Caplan: Documentary filmmaker and director who worked with Orson Welles.
• Mark Caplan: Emmy award-winning actor, most notable for his roles in Cheers, 7th Heaven, Covert Affairs, Grey's Anatomy, and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
• Alexander Caplan: Attorney and partner at the global law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges.
• David Caplan: Canadian politician and former cabinet minister.
• Michael Caplan: Music producer and former President of A&R for Arista Records.
• Benjamin Caplan: Indie folk and folk-rock musician.
• Karolina Caplan: Member of the Australian pop girl group Hot Rox International.
• Whitney Caplan: Actress and voice-over artist, best known for her voice-over performances in video games such as The Lord of the Rings and Shadow of Mordor.
• Charles Caplan: Film producer and President of The Global Film Design Group, best known for producing The Lost World: Jurassic Park.

Other surnames

Caplar