Contents [hide]

Maples History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Maples History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Maples family

The surname Maples was first found in Essex, where the first record found was that of Robert atte Mapele who was listed here in the Assize Rolls of 1285. Later John Mapel was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls for Cambridgeshire in 1327 and John del Mapples was found in Sheffield in 1348. 1

The name Maples, like many surnames, was derived from a topographical feature of the family's dwelling place. In this case, it is likely the family lived near a group of maple trees. Another, somewhat less likely possibility is that the family took their name from their house sign; in early times, many houses and buildings were marked with a sign; it is possible that the family resided in a house marked with a sign bearing a maple tree. 2 3

Another source claims the name is from "Mepal; a location name in Cambridgeshire." 4 This parish, in the hundred of South Witchford, union and Isle of Ely 5 has a very different etymology. It dates back to the 12th century when it was known as Mepahala and literally meant "nook of land of a man called Meapa," from the Old English personal name + "ham." 6 The aforementioned Cambridgeshire rolls entry in 1327 with the spelling of "Mapel" may be related.

Early History of the Maples family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Maples research. Another 53 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1285, 1327, 1348, 1635 and 1655 are included under the topic Early Maples History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Maples Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Maples, Mapel, Mapples, Maiples, Marples, Mapele and many more.

Early Notables of the Maples family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Sir Thomas Maples, 1st Baronet of Stow, in the County of Huntingdon (died 1635)

Maples Ranking

In the United States, the name Maples is the 2,811^st most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 7

Maples migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Maples Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Tho Maples, who landed in Virginia in 1662 8
Geo Maples, who arrived in Virginia in 1665 8

Maples Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Joseph Maples, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1837

Maples migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Maples Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Joseph Maples, English convict from Nottinghamshire, who was transported aboard the "Arab" on February 22, 1834, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 9
Mr. Thomas Maples, English convict who was convicted in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Grey" on 27th July 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Charles Maples, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "William Hyde" in 1849 11
G. Maples, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "William Hyde" in 1849 11

Contemporary Notables of the name Maples (post 1700) +

William R. Maples (1937-1997), American forensic anthropologist, author of "Dead Men Do Tell Tales: The Strange and Fascinating Cases of a Forensic Anthropologist"
Michael D. Maples (b. 1949), American Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, recipient of the Legion of Merit (3) and the Bronze Star
Holly Maples, American actress, best known for playing Eleanor Prince on the drama series In Plain Sight
Bobby Ray Maples (1942-1991), American football center and linebacker who played from 1965 to 1978, AFL All-Star (1968)
Marla Maples (b. 1963), American actress, model and public figure, best known for her marriage to celebrity Donald Trump
Orrin S. Maples, American Republican politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Bozrah, 1906 12
Frank T. Maples, American Republican politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Norwich, 1903-06 12
Darwin Maples, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Mississippi, 1956 12
Darius Maples, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Delaware County, 1838 12
William Maples (1820-1854), English civil servant in the Indian civil service and first-class cricketer for Cambridge University in 1839
... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Maples Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Non vi sed virtute
Motto Translation: By force and prudence.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Arab voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1834 with 230 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/arab/1834
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-grey
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) WILLIAM HYDE 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849WilliamHyde.htm
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 16) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html