Surname Appleford - Meaning and Origin
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Appleford: What does the surname Appleford mean?
The surname Appleford is of English origin, derived from the name of a place in England. It is a topographic or locational surname, a type of surname that was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or a type of tree.
Pertaining to Appleford, this surname is habitational, as it comes from any of the several places named Appleford, including those in Berkshire and Oxfordshire. The name Appleford itself comes from Old English 'æppel' meaning 'apple' and 'ford' meaning 'ford or river crossing'. Essentially, Appleford can be translated to 'apple river crossing'.
Locational surnames were developed when former inhabitants of a place moved to another area, usually in search of work, and were best identified by the name of their birthplace. Therefore, the surname Appleford would have been initially used to identify individuals who hailed from that place. Over time, as families moved and population increased, it would become a family name passed down to successive generations.
Order DNA origin analysisAppleford: Where does the name Appleford come from?
The surname Appleford is of English origin, derived from a place name. Appleford is a village in the civil parish of Sutton Courtenay in Oxfordshire, England. The name was first recorded in the 12th century as 'Appletona', which means 'apple-tree farm'. Over time, it evolved into 'Appleford'.
Historically, it was common for people to be named after the place where they lived or where they owned land, so the first people to carry the name Appleford likely had some significant connection to the village.
Today, the surname Appleford is still most common in England, particularly in areas around Oxfordshire. However, like many surnames, it has spread around the world due to migration and diaspora. It can now also be found in countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia, albeit in smaller numbers.
Variations of the surname Appleford
The surname Appleford is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It comes from a place name, specifically from the places named Appleford in Berkshire and Oxfordshire, England. The name is made up of two Old English elements: "æppel" meaning apple and "ford" meaning ford. Over time and generations, the name has seen variations in its spelling, primarily due to differences in regional dialects and phonetic spellings. Some of the known variants of the surname Appleford include Appleforth, Apelford, Apelforth, Appelford, and Appelforth. Sometimes, the 'e' in the name is substituted with an 'a', making it Applafrd or Applaforth.
In some cases, the prefix "Apple" may be dropped, leading to variations like Ford or Forth. De Appleford, meaning 'from Appleford,' is also another possible variant. However, it's important to note that surnames evolved over time and were often recorded as they sounded to the person taking the census or compiling the record. This means that the actual number of variants could be much larger. Further, surnames of the same origin include other locational names taken from a region with apple trees or a ford, such as Appleyard.
Famous people with the name Appleford
- Steve Appleford: An American journalist and author. He specializes particularly in music and popular culture.
- Jane Appleford: An Australian designer who is best known for her work in interior and furniture design.
- Neil Appleford: A retired English cricketer.
- Peter Appleford: A former English professional footballer who played as a wing half in the 1950s and 1960s. These are the major personalities with 'Appleford' as their last name. It is likely there are some local or lesser-known figures with the same surname, however, these individuals are not widely recognized or famous at a global level. Please refer to specific geographical areas or fields of interest for more detailed information.