Most sources seem to agree that the name originated in Normandy, came to England with the conquest, and arrived in Ireland with Strongbow around 1170 (some say from South Wales, others Kent). There are various versions of the name around this time including de la Chappelle, Des Chapelles, and De Capella but later it was corrupted, at first into Irish as Sheapallh, then English as Supple.

It is apparent that all branches of the family start with that which established itself on land near Killeagh, in approximately 1172, later known as the Ahadoe estate. From there they branched out to Kerry and Limerick but the name was never numerous. As well as the Ahadoe estate they also held land at Dromadda (South of Castlemartyr, also known as Supple's Court); the Castle of Ightermurragh which they built around 1641; Kilmacow, near Tallow; and Knockgrasse, near Clonakilty.

Much of the Supple land was confiscated following the collapse of the Desmond rebellion, including that at Kilmacow, further confiscations occurred in the years that followed. Ahadoe, however, was spared when William, son of William FitzEdward Supple of Ahadoe, was made ward of Richard Boyle, Earl of Cork, and later married Boyle's niece, Catherine Smith. In this way the Boyle family gained control of the estate, and, the Supple family avoided the fate that befell many 'old English' families, indictment for treason at the Youghal Sessions of 1642. The Ahadoe family probably converted to Protestantism at this time but the Ightermurragh family remained catholic and it was their support of James II that brought about the loss of that estate.

In the 1750s Richard Supple of Ahadoe married Mary Brooke dau. of Arthur Brooke, of Great Oakley, Northamptonshire. Their son, Richard Brooke Supple (born Jan 6, 1758), inherited the Great Oakley estate from his great-uncle, Wheeler Brooke. Upon succeeding to this estate, 23 Nov. 1797, he assumed by sign manual and in obedience to the testamentary injunction of his great-uncle the surname BROOKE at the same time the original surname of his family, DE CAPELL. He was created a Baronet June 20, 1803. He was a bencher of the Inner Temple, and for 30 years Col. of the Northamptonshire Militia , died Nov 1, 1829

Sir Arthur De Capell Brooke, Bart: eldest son and successor of the 1st baronet, born 1791, succeeded 1829, and incumbent at the time of Griffith's valuation. Author of "A Winter in the North Cape" and other works of Travel. Died s.p. 1858.

Sir William De Capell Brooke, Bart.: second son of the 1st baronet, born June 12, 1801, married 1829, succeeded to his brother's title and estate 1858. Barrister at Law, died 1897. The title became extinct in 1947 but members of the family are still to be found in Corby.

The Ahadoe estate was based at Ahadoe House, located above Glenbower Wood, near Killeagh (a full description is given by Samuel Lewis in his 1837 'Topographical Dictionary'). In 1881 it consisted of 2132 acres, including Glenbower Wood and most of the town of Killeagh. The bulk of the land was located in the civil parish of Killeagh but it also included most of Inchinabacky and one townland in each of Dungourney and Mogeely. The De Capell Brooke family were absentee landlords after 1797, they were normally resident at Great Oakley Hall, Corby, Northamptonshire.

The estate was broken up and the land sold to the tenants after 1903, the exception being Glenbower Wood which was acquired by the Forest and Wildlife Service in 1933.