Origins
The origins of the Caperton name have been shrouded in mystery since the early days of the Caperton Genealogy. Various people have explored these origins with mixed results. Here are summaries of some of this research. If you would like to add information here, please contact me at
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The UK Caperton Collection is the newest Caperton Society Collection. It has been common Caperton lore that the Capertons come from Across the pond in the early 1700's, we have just never been able to find real proof of this. According to the Elmwood Manuscript, John Caperton came here from Ireland following family intrigue.
Marcia Behnke has recently been doing some extraordinary digging into our UK roots and has uncovered a growing amount of data related to the Caperton name. Over the next few weeks I will put up as much of what she has come up with as she will let me! In the meantime I have relocated the UK census databases and some early work done on Wells England.
Stay tuned!
by Bernard M. Caperton
Much speculation has been advanced about the European antecedent of John Caperton. I have done no original research on this matter, but feel that I must pass on to the family the information discovered by others that has recently come to my attention. Adm. Wm. B. Caperton (E-8531), and Woods A. Caperton (F-71511) of Indianapolis did some research in England and Scotland, and reported their findings to Katherine Phelps Caperton (0-743) from whom I
by Robert Canterbury
The Following summarizes a series of eMails written by Robert Canterbury on his research of the origins of the Caperton Name. Robert's connection to Caperton is thru Alice Caperton, his g-mother. She was daughter of Hugh Thompson Caperton, s/o John S., s/o Captain 'New River' Hugh Caperton.
by Donald L. Caperton
In his discourse on the Caperton Origins, Robert Canterbury writes of a Capitan family in Kilmorack Parish, Inverness, Scotland. The links below will open specific pages of the Kilmorack Parish Register which refers to the names of which Mr. Canterbury writes.
By Troy Kent Caperton - 15 May, 2004, Austin, Texas
To the speculations of the last 88 years, I would like to add my own theories and speculations. There is nothing in my findings and theories that conflict with other ideas and I will attempt to reconcile my ideas with the research that has gone on before.
Oren F. Morton, 1916, p. 322-324
The Caperton's are derived from a French ancestor who went from the south of France to the British Isles. The progenitor of the Monroe connection was John who crossed the Atlantic about 1725 and at length found his way from Philadelphia to the Valley of Virginia. His wife was Mary Thompson, whom he met on the ship that conveyed him to America. In 1759 we find mention on Christian Creek of John Caperton, a yeoman, whose wife was Mary.
Read more: Caperton A History of Monroe County West Virginia