Surname Staple - Meaning and Origin
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Staple: What does the surname Staple mean?
The origin of the last name Staple is unknown, but it is thought to have first developed in England. It is likely derived from the Middle English word 'stapl', meaning an important provision or resource. Alternatively, it could come from the Old French word ‘estable’, meaning a place where horses and other animals are kept. This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who owned a stable or ran a business involving animals, such as supplying food or hay.
There are various spellings of the name, including Staple, Stapler and Staploe. During the Middle Ages, it was common for surnames to vary between generations of the same family. It could also have changed over time due to regional accents, as well as through migration.
The name has spread throughout Europe via migration and emigration. It is now common in many countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, the United States and Australia.
The meaning and origin of the Staple surname is unknown for certain, but it is likely to have had an agricultural or mercantile link. The surname also forms part of the genealogy of many families, making it a fascinating name to research.
Order DNA origin analysisStaple: Where does the name Staple come from?
The surname Staple is particularly common in the United States and England. In the United States, the Staple surname is most prevalent in the states of Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. In the UK, it is particularly common in the Midlands and the South West regions. In the twentieth century, significant numbers of Staple families relocated from the US to Canada, where it is now also common.
Many Staple families in America are descendants of English settlers from the early colonial period. The name is believed to derive from “stapol,” an Old English topographical term for a post or a stake. As a result, it is likely that some early Staple families were farmers that used stakes to mark their boundaries. Over time, many Staple families have come to prominence, particularly within the military, business, and industry.
The Staple name is also common in Australia, where large numbers of British immigrants settled in the 19th century. Outside of the English-speaking world, the name is rare and is found primarily among the descendants of English and Irish immigrants. In sum, the last name Staple is most common in the United States, England, Canada, and Australia, with small numbers found elsewhere among the descendants of English, Irish, and Canadian immigrants.
Variations of the surname Staple
The surname Staple can take many forms, either in spellings, surnames, or variants. Some of these variants and spellings include Steeple, Steppel, Stapel, Staplee, Staypel, Stapl, and Stapyll.
The surname Staple is derived from a name given to someone who lived near or by a steeple or town pillar. Stations were often set up for travellers along major highways and those who manned them came to be known as Staplers.
Another source of the surname Staple is from an individual who was a resident or worker from the hamlet of Steeple in Essex, England. Those who originated from here were named Steeple or Stampele, and later corruptions became Staplon, Stapling, and Staple.
The Scottish version of Staple is Stapil or the Irish rarier Stapol. In Germany, the name is Stapel or Staapel. In Holland it is Staal and in Poland it is Stehpel.
Other variants of the Staple surname are Stepple, Steebel, Ste Table and Stepel. Other common surnames which are derived from the same source include Stapleton, Chapleton, Chapel, Stapull, Poorpuss, Prebble, and Preble.
Famous people with the name Staple
- Sturgill Simpson: Grammy Award–winning American singer-songwriter and music producer from Tennessee.
- Huey P. Staple: American pastor and civil rights activist, best known for his involvement in the American civil rights movement in the 1960s.
- Pops Staples: American singer-songwriter, guitarist and record producer, best known as the leader of the Staple Singers, an American gospel, soul and R&B singing group.
- Roebuck "Pops" Staples: American general and civil rights advocate, best known for leading the Staple Singers, an American gospel, soul and R&B vocal group.
- Mavis Staples: American rhythm and blues and gospel singer and actress, best known as the lead singer of the Staple Singers.
- Cleotha Staples: American rhythm and blues and gospel singer and songwriter.
- Yvonne Staples: American rhythm and blues and gospel singer, best known as a member of the Staple Singers.
- Yolanda Staples: American Gospel and R&B singer, best known as the youngest daughter of the Staple Singers.
- Yvonne Stapleton-Hemphill: American attorney and Justice of the Peace in Green County, Wisconsin.
- Parnell Staple: American professional basketball player, most recently of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks.