The following is a list of family surnames that have been associated with Caplin Bay/Calvert, Newfoundland since the latter decades of the eighteenth century. Although some surnames have long disappeared, in their time they were probably as well known as the most predominant surnames of Calvert are today. Little recollection remains of some early surnames, other than their association with a geographic location or topographic feature, or as a character in an anecdotal story recalled from memory by an older resident. While other surnames may have had a brief presence at Caplin Bay, there are insufficient records to determine if they lived there for a substantial amount of time or if they were indentured servants, migrants, or visiters whose presence was only temporary.
Like many Newfoundland settlements, the early settlers of Caplin Bay were a mixture of Irish and English. While the majority of the settlers there were Irish from the southeastern counties of Ireland, there were a few settlers whose origins were English, originating in all likelihood, from the area known as West Country, England. The ethnic origin of most surnames is obvious, however, some could be from either ethnicity. In the absence of written records, these surnames have been categorized under their most probable origin.
The initial piece of information provided with each surname is an extract from Dr. E. R. Seary's book Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland. First published in 1977, this book which is regarded by most researchers as the "genealogical bible" of Newfoundland, provides information on over three thousand family names. The information following these extracts is a collection of events or references gathered from a variety of surviving documents, such as colonial records, court records, voters lists, directories, and parish records, etc. Their purpose is to try to pinpoint the ethnic origin of settlers and to suggest the most probable time-frame when the family arrived or was established at Caplin Bay. Whenever possible, a summary of the family's history at Calvert has also been provided, with conclusions based primarily on documented information, but with family and community folklore sometimes used as a secondary resource.
Irish Surnames
Surnames of Caplin Bay/Calvert known, or believed, to be of Irish origin.
English (or Scottish) Surnames
Surnames of Caplin Bay/Calvert known, or believed, to be of English or Scottish origin.