The Staples surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 17,217 people carried this name — #2,104 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 17,100 people counted. That is up 4% from 16,572 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Staples surname

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a local name, from where the family lived: ‘at the staple’.

An early record he cites: Robert de Stapel, Kent, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Staple, Staples and Stapler.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 714 · public domain.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Staples was found among the farmers of Nottinghamshire: 7 in every 10,000.

Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Nottinghamshire 7

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

117 families named Staples, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 684 people lived in those households, 5.8 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 3 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Maine 57
Massachusetts 20
Connecticut 10
Virginia 9
Rhode Island 6
New York 6
Vermont 4
New Hampshire 2
Pennsylvania 1
Maryland 1
North Carolina 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 263 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Staples in American newspapers,
1896–1903.

Newspaper page from Omaha Daily Bee carrying the name Staples
Omaha Daily Bee 1896-12-26
Newspaper page from The Salt Lake Herald carrying the name Staples
The Salt Lake Herald 1896-12-27
Newspaper page from Pike County Press carrying the name Staples
Pike County Press 1903-10-30

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 5,274 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Staples in Australian newspapers,
1810s–1990s.

18,438 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Staples. The most, 2,807, date from the 1910s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Western Australia, at 1.5 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 7,433
Victoria 3,127
Western Australia 2,270
South Australia 2,175
Queensland 1,688
Tasmania 1,123
ACT (Canberra) 594
Northern Territory 3

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Staples.

Who carried it

People named Staples,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Anna Louisa Stewart d. 1867
  • Alexander Staples d. 1864
  • Catherine Staples d. 1830
  • Alexander Staples d. 1590
  • Isabella Staples d. 1803
  • Anne Staples d. 1811

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Staples,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,478 records

1,478 records of the Staples name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 669
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 297
  • Other U.S. records 512
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Thomas Trammel Staples

    Born 1946; from College Park, Georgia. U.S. Army, infantry unit commander; killed in action 1969 in Binh Duong, South Vietnam. Buried at Marietta National Cemetery, Georgia.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Weyman P. Staples

    Born 1918 in Arizona. Enlisted 1942 at Houston, Texas; hotel manager from Harris County, Texas. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1977, buried at Houston National Cemetery, Texas.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Joseph Staples

    Arrived at New York in 1885 aboard the City of Chester from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 55; farmer. From Warwick, England; bound for San Francisco.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 1,478 records for Staples in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia568 records

568 records of the Staples name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 212
  • Tasmanian Names Index 200
  • Other Australian records 156
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Elizabeth Staples

    Died 1877 in New Norfolk, Tasmania, aged 75. Will registered in Tasmania in 1877.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Arthur James Staples

    Born 1887 in Hobart, Tasmania. Married 1918 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 32.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record James Charles Stance Staples

    Born 1847 in Hobart, Tasmania. Died 1928 in Tasmania, aged 81.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 568 records for Staples in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Canada272 records

272 records of the Staples name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 196
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 23
  • Other Canadian records 53
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Chas Staples

    Came to Ontario in 1870 aboard the Prussian, landing at Quebec, bound for Hamilton, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Amy Helene Victoria Staples

    Buried in 1972 at Burnsland Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 78.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Alice Maude Staples

    Died 1945 in Amherst, Cumberland, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 272 records for Staples in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

United Kingdom23 records

23 records of the Staples name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 19
  • Welsh wills index cards 2
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 2
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Thomas Staples

    Will proved in 1883; of Beaumaris, Anglesey.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record H. G. Staples

    East Yorkshire Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Jane Staples

    Will proved in 1906; of Llaniestyn, Anglesey.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)

Showing 3 of 23 records for Staples in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

New Zealand15 records

15 records of the Staples name in New Zealand Christchurch City cemetery records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John Staples

    Buried in 1923 at Akaroa Anglican Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury, aged 73.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record May Staples

    Died 1926, aged 35; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Mary Elizabeth Staples

    Died 1911, aged 64; buried at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 15 records for Staples in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France2 records

2 records of the Staples name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Yvonne Simonne Renee Staples

    Born 1904 in Calais; died 1992 in Calais (Pas-de-Calais).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Jacques Albert Staples

    Born 1918 in Calais; died 1998 in Boulogne-sur-Mer (Pas-de-Calais).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Netherlands1 record

1 record of the Staples name in the Netherlands Dutch population registers
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Annie Staples

    In the population register of 's-Gravenhage; born 1902 in Bradfort.

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Staples.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Staples is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Staples volume
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