Cappelen is a Norwegian surname. Notable people with the surname include:
Cappelen (family), a distinguished Norwegian family Andreas Zeier Cappelen (1915–2008), Norwegian jurist and politician August Cappelen (1827–1852), Norwegian painter Axel Cappelen (1858–1919), Norwegian surgeon Christine Marie von Cappelen (1766–1849), Norwegian botanist Diderik von Cappelen (1761–1838), Norwegian businessman and politician Didrik Cappelen (1900–1970), resistance fighter, county judge and politician Frederick William Cappelen (1857–1921), Norwegian-born architect and Minneapolis City Engineer Hans Cappelen (Hasse) (1903–79), businessman, resistance fighter and Norwegian witness in the Nuremberg trials Herman Cappelen (born 1967), Norwegian philosopher Johan Cappelen (1889–1947), Norwegian jurist and politician Jørgen Wright Cappelen (1805–1878), Norwegian bookseller and publisher Nicolai Benjamin Cappelen (1795–1866), Norwegian jurist and politician Pål Cappelen (born 1947), Norwegian handball player Peder von Cappelen (1763–1837), Norwegian merchant and politician Sofie Cappelen (born 1982), Norwegian actress Ulrich Fredrich von Cappelen (1770–1820), Norwegian ship owner and businessman Ulrik Frederik Cappelen (1797–1864), Norwegian jurist and politician
See also J.W. Cappelens Forlag, a Norwegian publishing house founded in 1829 Cappelen Damm, a Norwegian publisher established in 2007 following the merger of J.W. Cappelens Forlag and N.W. Damm & Søn F.W. Cappelen Memorial Bridge, a bridge in Minneapolis, United States Cappeln, a municipality in Germany