MAPLE
Maple is an English surname that originates from the Old English word mapul, meaning a maple tree. The name survived into the Middle Ages as a topographic designation for individuals who dwelt near a stand of maple trees or a place so named.
The surname is most prevalent in the British Isles, particularly in England. Early records in the Poll Tax rolls for the year 1379 document individuals such as Thomas de Mapple in York and Johannes and Willelmus de Mapples in Rotherham, both situated in the historic county of Yorkshire. These entries support the assertion that the name was concentrated in the northern part of England during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.
Variations in spelling emerged over time. The surname has been recorded as Maple, Mapples, Marple, Marples, and Maypole. Canon Charles Bardsley, a noted Victorian etymologist, described the name as originating from Yorkshire and specified that it referred to a resident of an area known as “the maples.” Subsequent scholarly work has shown that the forms Marple or Marples may derive from the town name Marple, recorded first in 1248 as Merpel. The town itself is believed to mean a hill overlooking the River Mersey.
Later documentation provides instances of individuals bearing the surname in parish registers. For example, Robtus Maple appears in the register of St Andrews church, Enfield, Middlesex on 27 August 1564, and Johannis Marples is recorded at St Martins in the Field, Westminster on 8 March 1673. These entries illustrate the persistence of the name throughout England into the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
In modern times the surname remains relatively uncommon. Census data indicate that in 1891 the greatest concentration of Maple families in England was found in Essex. In the United States the highest population of Maple families was recorded in Ohio in 1840. The 1921 Canadian Census shows the most Maple families residing in Ontario, confirming that the name has spread beyond Britain, notably to North America, but has not become widespread.
While predominantly a topographic surname, Maple may also carry an occupational aspect. The wood of the maple tree is fine, hard and often beautifully patterned, and the name could conceivably refer to a maker or dealer of maple timber, as other surnames derived from plant names sometimes do. In addition, like many plant-based surnames, Maple might have been used metaphorically to denote qualities associated with the tree, such as resilience and adaptability.
The surname Maple, with its historical depth, regional specificity, and still modest frequency, remains a distinctive marker of English ancestry that has endured for many centuries while maintaining a unique presence in the genealogical record.
Typical given names associated with the Maple surname
Male
- Andrew
- Brian
- Christopher
- Clive
- David
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
- Simon
Female
- Anne
- Elizabeth
- Joan
- Joanne
- Lucy
- Lynda
- Margaret
- Mary
- Maureen
- Najma
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Paula
- Samantha
- Sarah
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 Maple in...
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Maple are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Jaffa Cake.
There are approximately 945 people named Maple in the UK. That makes it roughly the 7,689th most common surname in Britain. Around 15 in a million people in Britain are named Maple.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Maple
- Frank Maple - Australian rules football player (1904 to 1984)
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.