APPLEGARTH
Applegarth is an English locational surname that traces back to the Old English words æppel, meaning apple, and garth, meaning enclosure or garden. The name therefore indicates that the original bearer lived near or worked in an apple orchard or garden, and it is recorded as a surname that identifies place of residence or occupation.
The surname appears in a number of spellings in historical records, such as Applegate, Appelgarth and Appelgarthe. The earliest surviving entry is that of William de Apelgart, listed in the register of the abbey of St Edmunds in Suffolk in the late 12th century. Subsequent medieval records include Robert Applegarth in the Hundred Rolls of Yorkshire in 1279 and Richard de Appelgarthe in the Duchy of Cornwall accounts of the same year. The spelling Applegate first surfaces for example in the 1760 marriage record of Robert Applegate to Mary Crouch at St George's Chapel in Hanover Square, London.
Several villages named Applegarth are situated in East Yorkshire, North Yorkshire and Cumberland – all areas that were under Viking control from the 7th to the 11th centuries. Scandinavian influence is evident in the proposed pre‑7th‑century Norse‑Viking derivation apladr-garor, meaning apple enclosure, which may have contributed to the place names and, by extension, the surname. Locational surnames of this type were often adopted by the lord of the manor, their descendants, or former villagers who relocated, providing a convenient means of identifying a “stranger” by the name of the place from whence he came.
In addition to its English roots, the surname Applegarth is also recorded in Scotland, particularly in the Strathclyde, Borders and West Lothian regions. A 13th‑century Scottish sheriff named Robert de Applegarth appears in the historical annals, and the name has persisted in Scottish place‑names, such as Applegarth Street in Eklwood and Applegarth House in the West of Scotland. The family has historically held positions of authority, including sheriffs and judicial officers, reflecting a longstanding social prominence.
Geographical distribution shows that Applegarth remains most prevalent in the United Kingdom, but it can also be found in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United States and other English‑speaking countries. Variants of the surname are widespread and include Applegate, Appelgarth, Appelgart, Appelgarden, Appletart and others. Pronunciation and spelling adjustments have occurred in response to migration, dialect, and the need to align with local orthography, e.g., the German adaptation Apfelgart. These variations illustrate the name’s transmission across language and cultural boundaries while retaining its core meaning of apple orchard.
Through a combination of toponymic, occupational and historical factors, the surname Applegarth reflects a heritage that is both rural and agricultural, rooted in the cultivation of apples and in the communities that grew around them. Its persistence from medieval records to contemporary usage demonstrates a durable link between identity and place across centuries of English‑speaking societies.
Typical given names associated with the Applegarth surname
Male
- Andrew
- Anthony
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Lee
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
Female
- Amanda
- Anita
- Barbara
- Helen
- Jane
- Joanne
- Julia
- Karen
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Applegarth in...
Braille
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Morse
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There are approximately 390 people named Applegarth in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around six in a million people in Britain are named Applegarth.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Applegarth
- Willie Applegarth - Sprinter (1890 to 1958)
- Mark Applegarth - Rugby league player
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.