Appeley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland/England
England
Scotland

The ancient history of the Appeley name begins with the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the family resided in one of the places called Apperley in Somerset, Gloucestershire, and Northumberland. There is also an Apperley Bridge in the West Riding of Yorkshire. 1 2

Apperley in Gloucestershire is the oldest as it dates back to 1200 when it was known as Apperleg. Literally the place name means "wood or clearing where apple trees grow," from the Old English "apuldor" + "leah." 3

Early Origins of the Appeley family

The surname Appeley was first found in Gloucestershire where Richard de Apperleee was listed in the Assize Rolls for 1221. A few years later, Thomas de Apperleye was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire c. 1280. 1

John de Apperleghe was listed in Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III) 4 and the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included William de Appert, Oxfordshire. 5

"Apperley is an old Herefordshire surname, probably derived from the hamlet of that name in the neighbouring county of Gloucester. There were Apperleys in Linton 200 years ago, and during the reign of Charles II. Thomas Apperley, gent., lived at Eaton Tregose. In the last century, a gentle family of Apperley resided in Withington (D.). At present the Apperleys are mostly gathered together in the vicinity of Hereford, but there are still representatives of the name in Withington." 6

Early History of the Appeley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Appeley research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1952 is included under the topic Early Appeley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Appeley Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Appeley include Appaleigh, Apperley, Apperly, Applegh, Appeley, Appley, Apply, Epperley, Epperleigh, Eppley and many more.

Early Notables of the Appeley family

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

Migration of the Appeley family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Appeley or a variant listed above: Elizabeth Apperly who landed in New England in 1654 and died in 1663. John Apperley arrived in Barbados in 1654 and later moved to the mainland.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.