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Appleby Family History

Appleby Surname Meaning

English (northern): habitational name from any of various places for example in Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and Cumbria named from Old English æppel or Old Norse epli ‘apple’.

It is combined with Old Norse bȳ ‘farm’, indicating a location associated with apple farming.

This etymology reflects the agricultural significance of apples in the region.

The name likely denoted specific geographical areas where apple cultivation was prominent.

As such, it highlights the historical connection between people and the land they inhabit.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Appleby family from?

You can see how Appleby families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Appleby family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Appleby families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 945 Appleby families living in Yorkshire. This was about 17% of all the recorded Appleby's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Appleby families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Appleby surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Appleby ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Appleby. 9% of Appleby men worked as a General Labourer and 68% of Appleby women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Appleby were Farmer and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Appleby | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    9%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Builders Labourer
    3%
  • Farmer
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    68%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

What Appleby family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 124,000 census records available for the last name Appleby. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Appleby census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Appleby

Passenger Lists

There are 10,000 immigration records available for the last name Appleby. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Appleby immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 10,000 military records available for the last name Appleby. For the veterans among your Appleby ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Appleby military records

You've only scratched the surface of Appleby family history

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What is the average Appleby lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Appleby life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Appleby in 1944 was 34, and 70 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Appleby

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Appleby ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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