Apulton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

The ancestors of the name Apulton date back to the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the Apulton family lived near an orchard or a homestead where apples were grown. The Old English word for orchard is æppeltun, which is a compound word formed from æppel, which means apple, and tun, which means enclosure. The surname may also be derived from residency near the various settlements called Appleton in Cheshire, Kent, and Yorkshire, among other places.

Early Origins of the Apulton family

The surname Apulton was first found in Lancashire at Widness with Appleton, a township, in the parish and union of Prescot, hundred of West Derby. The estate of Widness with Appleton was once held by the family but was lost under tragic circumstances. "Appleton gave name to an ancient family, the last of whom left two children under the guardianship of one Hawarden, who was reported to have murdered them. The estate afterwards belonged to the Gellibrands, who succeeded the Hawardens." 1

Some of the first records of the name include John de Appelton who represented York in the parliament in the reign of Edward II and William Appleton who was sheriff of that city in the reign of James II. 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 include: Thomas de Appelton in Oxfordshire; and Wydo de Appelton in Yorkshire. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list Willelmus de Appilton. 3

Further north in Scotland, one of the first records there was Robert de Aplinden or Aplintoune in Annandale who forfeited his lands in the reign of Robert Bruce. Later Robert de Aplinton or Appylton had a charter of land in the burgh of Invemys from Robert II in 1378. 4

Early History of the Apulton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Apulton research. Another 80 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1650 and 1654 are included under the topic Early Apulton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Apulton Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Apulton are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Apulton include: Appleton, Apelton, Apleton, Appletown, Apylton and others.

Early Notables of the Apulton family

Distinguished members of the family include Henry Appleton (fl. 1650-1654), English captain in the navy and commodore. He was a townsman and presumably a native of Hull; but his name does not appear in any list of naval officers during the civil...
Another 42 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Apulton Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Apulton family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Apulton or a variant listed above: Richard Appleton settled in Virginia in 1622; and Richard Appleton settled in that same estate in 1635; Francis settled in Maryland in 1774; Mary Appleton settled in 1734.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. 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)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)