Show ContentsApplebee History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancient Applebee was a habitation surname, formed from any of various places so named in England and Scotland. Appleby is derived from the old Norse "apall," or "apple" combined with "byr," meaning "farm."

Early Origins of the Applebee family

The surname Applebee was first found in Westmorland at the manor of Appleby from about the year 1250, which later became the county town of Appleby-in Westmorland. This town was frequently sacked and plundered and was a favorite target of raids north of the border. By example: "It retained its importance from the time of the Romans until the year 1176, when William, King of Scotland, surprised the castle, and destroyed the town; from which calamity, however, it had so far recovered in the reign of Henry III., that a court of exchequer was established here." 1 There are other parishes named Appebly in Derbyshire, Cumbria and Lincolnshire. Literally, the place name means "farmstead or village where apple-trees grow," from the Old English words "aeppel" + the Viking word "by." 2

Early History of the Applebee family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Applebee research. Another 116 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1300 and 1617 are included under the topic Early Applebee History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Applebee Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Appleby, Applebie, Appilby, Appilbie, Appeley, Applebee and many more.

Early Notables of the Applebee family

More information is included under the topic Early Applebee Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Applebee migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Applebee Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • George Applebee, who landed in Georgia in 1752 3
Applebee Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. Applebee, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Applebee (post 1700) +

  • David Applebee, American director and cinematographer, best known for Sirk! (2011) and Hiding Game (2012)
  • Constance Mary Katherine "M.K." Applebee (1873-1981), English-born, American sports coach, nicknamed, "The Apple", best known for introducing field hockey to the United States in 1901


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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