Capella

Capella is a Catalan surname derived from the Kappel surname. The name ultimately originates from a toponymic or occupational description for a person who lived near or worked at a chapel, from Late Latin cappella, a diminutive of cappa "cape". The term cappella arose from the relic of the torn cape of Saint Martin, which was preserved in a small church, later applied to any small chapel.

Etymology and Origin

The surname Capella is the Catalan form of Kappel, which is German in origin. Cognate surnames in other Romance languages include Portuguese Capela, Spanish Capilla, and French Chaplin (from Old French chapelein meaning "chapel") and Lachapelle. The name shares its root with the Italian surname Cappella, although that is not mentioned in given data.

The word cappella comes from Late Latin, itself a diminutive of cappa "cape, cloak", referring to the sacred relic of Saint Martin's cloak. According to legend, Saint Martin of Tours (c. 316–397) tore his cloak in two to share with a beggar. The half-cloak (cappella) was kept as a relic in a building that came to be called a chapel.

History and Notable Bearers

The surname Capella is most common in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, where it has Catalan roots. Notably, Capella is also the name of the brightest star in the constellation Auriga, named for the Latin capella meaning "little goat" depicting the goat Amalthea that suckled Zeus. Astronomers such as Giovanni Battista Capella were active in the 16th century.

• Meaning: "chapel" or "little cape"
• Origin: Catalonia, derived from German Kappel
• Type: Toponymic/Occupational
• Usage: Catalan-speaking regions