EPPLE
Yesterday it was noted that the surname Epple is of German origin, with its roots in the Middle High German word eppel, which means “apple.” The name is thought to have first been applied as a descriptive nickname to a person who lived in proximity to an apple orchard or who worked as an apple farmer.
In Germany the name occurs most frequently in the southern states of Bavaria, Baden‑Württemberg and Rhineland‑Palatinate, with smaller concentrations in North Rhine‑Westphalia. Across the German‑speaking part of Switzerland the surname can be found throughout the country, and it is particularly common in the German‑speaking region. In total there are roughly 5,100 people today who bear the surname Epple.
There exists a wide range of orthographic variants. In German the forms Epplin, Eppl, Eppel, Eppele, Epplen and Appel are all recognised. Dutch variants include Apfelmann, Appelboom, Appelman, Appelboer, Appelmans and Apfelbaum. Austrian spellings such as Epplebauer, Eppell, Eppl, Eppling, Appelbaum, Apell and Apellbacher can also be encountered, and in Switzerland variants include Appellbaum, Appelbacher, Appelin, Appinger and Appelmann. Additional spellings found in Hungary and Slovakia are Apfalvi (or Apfalvi‑Epple) and Epplovni (or Eppli, Epplkeex), respectively. In English‑speaking countries the surname often appears as Epple, Eppley, Epley, Eplen, Epply or simply Epp.
Within the British Isles the surname is recorded in several forms, including Apple, Appel, Appoell and Epple. One proposed origin is the pre‑7th century Scandinavian word apaldr, meaning apple, which would make the name an occupational designation for a grower of fruit, especially apples. Another possible derivation is Welsh, where the component Ap‑ means “son of,” applied to a personal name such as Pella, rendering the meaning “son of Pella.” Early church registers from London provide documentary evidence of the name: for example, Alyce Appoell, daughter of John Appoell, was christened at St Michael Bassishaw on 19 November 1555, and Jemima Epple married John Ashton at St Dunstans in the East, Stepney, on 17 August 1840. Although occupational surnames began to appear from the 12th century, they did not generally become hereditary unless a son followed a father into the same line of business, so many instances of the name are the result of other factors.
During the 19th century German emigration spread the surname to the United States and Canada. The first known use of the name in the United States dates from the early 1700s. Today, while the highest concentration of people named Epple remains in Germany, the name can also be found in parts of North America and, to a lesser extent, in other European countries.
In summary the surname Epple reflects an agricultural heritage tied to the apple tree, a feature that has been part of German and, in a more limited fashion, British and Welsh onomastic tradition for many centuries.
Typical given names associated with the Epple surname
Male
- Jurgen
- Todd
- Wolfgang
Female
- Anita
- Heather
- Karola
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 Epple in...
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Sorry, we don't have any statistics on this name. That's probably because it's very uncommon in Britain.
Region of origin: Europe
Country of origin: Germany
Language of origin: German
