1610s, "counting of heads," from Late Latin capitationem (nominative capitatio) "the poll tax," noun of action from past participle stem of a verb derived from caput "head" (from PIE root *kaput- "head"). Meaning "levying of a poll tax" is from 1640s.
capitalist
capitalistic
capitalization
capitalize
capitate
capitation
Capitol
capitulate
capitulation
capitulum
capnography