NameCensus.

UK surname

Aplin

A name derived from the Middle English for "apple tree".

In the 1881 census there were 833 people recorded with the Aplin surname, ranking it #4,520 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,148, ranked #5,138, down from #4,520 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Seaton, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Chard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Devon, South Somerset and West Dorset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Aplin is 1,281 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37.8%.

1881 census count

833

Ranked #4,520

Modern count

1,148

2016, ranked #5,138

Peak year

1998

1,281 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Aplin had 833 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,520 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,148 in 2016, ranked #5,138.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,171 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Aplin surname distribution map

The map shows where the Aplin surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Aplin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Aplin over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 579 #4,401
1861 historical 620 #4,309
1881 historical 833 #4,520
1891 historical 921 #4,487
1901 historical 1,015 #4,699
1911 historical 1,171 #3,989
1997 modern 1,241 #4,580
1998 modern 1,281 #4,635
1999 modern 1,274 #4,686
2000 modern 1,223 #4,820
2001 modern 1,209 #4,771
2002 modern 1,221 #4,831
2003 modern 1,204 #4,798
2004 modern 1,212 #4,775
2005 modern 1,162 #4,891
2006 modern 1,164 #4,891
2007 modern 1,168 #4,925
2008 modern 1,171 #4,933
2009 modern 1,173 #5,038
2010 modern 1,185 #5,101
2011 modern 1,171 #5,087
2012 modern 1,155 #5,068
2013 modern 1,182 #5,058
2014 modern 1,183 #5,085
2015 modern 1,173 #5,071
2016 modern 1,148 #5,138

Geography

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Where Aplins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Seaton, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Chard, London parishes and Axminster, Thorncombe, Uplyme. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Devon, South Somerset, West Dorset and Purbeck. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Seaton Devon
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Chard Somerset
4 London parishes London 3
5 Axminster, Thorncombe, Uplyme Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Devon 009 East Devon
2 South Somerset 010 South Somerset
3 West Dorset 001 West Dorset
4 Purbeck 006 Purbeck
5 West Dorset 010 West Dorset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Aplin

These lists show first names that appear often with the Aplin surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Aplin

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Aplin, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Aplin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Aplin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Aplin is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Aplin is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Aplin falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Aplin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Aplin, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Aplin

The surname Aplin is an English locational name that originated in the county of Gloucestershire. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "æppel" or "æppeltun," which means "apple orchard" or "apple farm." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name may have lived near or worked in an area known for its apple orchards or apple-related activities.

The name Aplin can be traced back to the 12th century, with one of the earliest recorded instances appearing in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1197, where a person named William Apelin is mentioned. The variations in spelling, such as Apelyn, Applyn, and Aplyn, were common during this period due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

In the famous Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there is a reference to a place called "Appeldore" in Kent, which shares a similar etymological root with the surname Aplin. This suggests that the name may have originated from a place name related to apple orchards or apple cultivation.

One notable bearer of the Aplin surname was John Aplin (1620-1679), an English merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London from 1661 to 1662. During his tenure, he oversaw the rebuilding of the city after the Great Fire of London in 1666.

Another prominent figure was Sir Thomas Aplin (1646-1718), an English judge and Member of Parliament who served as the Lord Mayor of London from 1704 to 1705. He played a significant role in the governance of the city during a turbulent period marked by religious and political tensions.

In the literary realm, Mary Aplin (1780-1866) was an English writer and diarist who provided valuable insights into the social and cultural life of her time through her writings and observations.

The Aplin surname can also be found in the history of the American colonies. One notable example is William Aplin (1610-1683), an early settler in New England who became a prominent landowner and community leader in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Henry Aplin (1784-1860) was an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the former Middlesex County Prison and the St. Mary's Church in Islington.

These are just a few examples of the individuals who have carried the Aplin surname throughout history, showcasing its widespread presence and the diverse roles and contributions of its bearers across various fields and regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Aplin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Aplin surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Somerset leads with 212 Aplins recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.29x.

County Total Index
Somerset 212 16.29x
Devon 128 7.60x
Dorset 97 18.28x
Middlesex 80 0.99x
Gloucestershire 44 2.77x
Surrey 41 1.04x
Hampshire 36 2.17x
Warwickshire 31 1.52x
Wiltshire 24 3.36x
Essex 18 1.13x
Staffordshire 12 0.44x
Cornwall 11 1.20x
Cumberland 10 1.44x
Sussex 10 0.73x
Lancashire 9 0.09x
Monmouthshire 8 1.37x
Glamorgan 7 0.50x
Oxfordshire 7 1.40x
Yorkshire 7 0.09x
Bedfordshire 6 1.43x
Kent 6 0.22x
Westmorland 6 3.38x
Hertfordshire 5 0.90x
Berkshire 3 0.49x
Flintshire 2 0.92x
Lincolnshire 2 0.15x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.18x
Royal Navy 2 2.08x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.20x
Herefordshire 1 0.30x
Leicestershire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chard in Somerset leads with 49 Aplins recorded in 1881 and an index of 310.72x.

Place Total Index
Chard 49 310.72x
Aston 26 4.63x
Seaton 18 277.35x
Taunton St Mary 17 71.16x
Broadwinsor 16 459.77x
Clerkenwell London 13 6.81x
Colyton 12 185.76x
Southampton All Sts 12 42.19x
Stratton St Margaret 12 109.39x
Nettlecombe 11 1341.46x
Paddington London 11 3.70x
West Ham 11 3.12x
Camberwell 10 1.94x
Chelsea London 10 4.10x
Clapham 10 9.89x
Cleator 10 34.51x
Islington London 10 1.28x
Madron 10 135.14x
Musbury 10 675.68x
Westbury On Trym 10 18.61x
Wiveliscombe 10 137.74x
Brighton 9 3.27x
Bristol St George 9 12.27x
Combe St Nicholas 9 285.71x
East Teignmouth 9 130.62x
Exeter St Sidwell 9 23.35x
Winsham 9 378.15x
Allington 8 169.13x
Bridgewater 8 22.64x
Creech St Michael 8 246.15x
Lambeth 8 1.13x
Milverton 8 166.67x
Penselwood 8 689.66x
Tiverton 8 27.59x
Cranborne 7 109.03x
Melcombe Regis 7 31.82x
Newport 7 25.10x
Thorncombe 7 229.51x
Walsall Foreign 7 4.96x
West Hatch 7 603.45x
Bedford St Paul 6 20.89x
Harlow 6 87.21x
Honiton 6 64.45x
Kendal 6 18.44x
Kings Brompton Brompton 6 882.35x
Walcot 6 8.65x
Wellington 6 33.99x
West Teignmouth 6 46.58x
Westbury On Severn 6 95.54x
Birmingham 5 0.74x
Cheddington 5 1562.50x
Corfe Castle 5 101.63x
Dawlish 5 39.81x
Fisherton Anger 5 37.76x
Hammersmith London 5 2.51x
Harborne 5 5.72x
Hasfield 5 735.29x
Newton 5 6.76x
Rockbourne 5 396.83x
St Clement Danes London 5 29.87x
Wembdon 5 129.87x
Westminster St Margaret 5 12.82x
Yeovil 5 18.90x
Bodicote 4 210.53x
Cheltenham 4 3.27x
Chilcombe 4 3636.36x
Corsham 4 38.31x
Croydon 4 1.83x
Exeter Heavitree 4 31.87x
Exeter St Olave 4 184.33x
Kingston On Thames 4 4.23x
Litton Cheney 4 312.50x
Misterton 4 216.22x
Morebath 4 325.20x
Netherbury 4 91.12x
Otterford 4 357.14x
Pitminster 4 104.44x
Portsea 4 1.23x
St George Hanover Square 4 2.81x
Taunton St James 4 21.07x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Aplin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Aplin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 56
John 44
George 38
James 30
Henry 23
Robert 21
Thomas 18
Charles 14
Albert 12
Samuel 9
Frederick 7
Joseph 7
Walter 7
Edward 6
Frank 6
Arthur 5
Francis 5
Fred 5
Alfred 4
Benjamin 4
Harry 4
Richard 4
Christopher 3
Edmund 3
Edwin 2
Elias 2
Elphinstone 2
Ernest 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Oliver 2
Percival 2
Phillip 2
Pownal 2
Sidney 2
Stephen 2
Sydney 2
Tobias 2
Tom 2
Augustus 1
Cecil 1
Clifton 1
Doyley 1
Elizabeth 1
Fd.G. 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
Hugh 1
Humphry 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Aplin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Aplin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 833 people were recorded with the Aplin surname. That placed it at #4,520 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Aplin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,148 in 2016. That gives Aplin a modern rank of #5,138.

What does the Aplin surname mean?

A name derived from the Middle English for "apple tree".

What does the Aplin map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Aplin bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.