NameCensus.

UK surname

Appleford

An English locational surname originating from a place where apple trees grew.

In the 1881 census there were 329 people recorded with the Appleford surname, ranking it #9,107 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 268, ranked #16,003, down from #9,107 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bishop's Sutton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Berkshire, Wiltshire and Bristol.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Appleford is 368 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 18.5%.

1881 census count

329

Ranked #9,107

Modern count

268

2016, ranked #16,003

Peak year

1911

368 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Appleford had 329 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,107 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 268 in 2016, ranked #16,003.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 368 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Appleford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Appleford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Appleford 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 251 #8,761
1861 historical 293 #8,589
1881 historical 329 #9,107
1891 historical 350 #9,836
1901 historical 347 #10,500
1911 historical 368 #9,886
1997 modern 310 #13,241
1998 modern 324 #13,189
1999 modern 326 #13,238
2000 modern 302 #13,848
2001 modern 299 #13,758
2002 modern 285 #14,483
2003 modern 281 #14,443
2004 modern 274 #14,762
2005 modern 263 #15,139
2006 modern 271 #14,880
2007 modern 253 #15,776
2008 modern 258 #15,732
2009 modern 266 #15,711
2010 modern 277 #15,595
2011 modern 270 #15,754
2012 modern 252 #16,424
2013 modern 263 #16,232
2014 modern 261 #16,421
2015 modern 257 #16,475
2016 modern 268 #16,003

Geography

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Where Applefords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bishop's Sutton, London parishes, Chawton and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Berkshire, Wiltshire, Bristol, Southend-on-Sea and Basingstoke and Deane. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Bishop's Sutton Hampshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Chawton Hampshire
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Berkshire 007 West Berkshire
2 Wiltshire 029 Wiltshire
3 Bristol 021 Bristol, City of
4 Southend-on-Sea 013 Southend-on-Sea
5 Basingstoke and Deane 007 Basingstoke and Deane

Forenames

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First names often paired with Appleford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Appleford

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Appleford, 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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Appleford surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Appleford household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Appleford is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Appleford is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Appleford falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Appleford is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Appleford

The surname Appleford has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is a locational name, derived from a place name that likely refers to an apple orchard or a ford (a shallow crossing point) near apple trees. This type of surname was common in England, as people often took on the name of the place they were from or associated with.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Appleford can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of land holdings and wealth in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name was already well-established by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, a notable bearer of the name was Robert de Appleford, a landowner and nobleman mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1230. These rolls were financial records kept by the King's Exchequer, indicating that Robert de Appleford held significant land and wealth.

During the 14th century, the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Berkshire, which were tax records. In 1327, one entry lists a William Appleford as a taxpayer, suggesting that the family had spread to different regions of England by this time.

In the 16th century, a prominent figure with the surname Appleford was John Appleford (c. 1520 - 1592), an English Catholic priest and martyr. He was executed during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I for refusing to renounce his faith and allegiance to the Pope.

Another notable bearer of the name was Sir Matthew Appleford (1619 - 1700), a wealthy businessman and landowner from Oxfordshire. He was involved in various commercial ventures and served as a Member of Parliament for several years during the latter half of the 17th century.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Appleford has maintained its connection to its English roots, with various spelling variations emerging over time, such as Appulford, Appeleford, and Appylford. While the name has spread globally, its origins can be traced back to the medieval English countryside and the practice of adopting locational surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Appleford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Appleford 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. Hampshire leads with 70 Applefords recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.67x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 70 10.67x
Berkshire 52 21.65x
Surrey 46 2.95x
Essex 43 6.81x
Middlesex 28 0.88x
Wiltshire 19 6.71x
Yorkshire 18 0.57x
Gloucestershire 15 2.39x
Kent 7 0.64x
Worcestershire 5 1.20x
Northamptonshire 4 1.33x
Oxfordshire 4 2.02x
Sussex 4 0.74x
Dorset 3 1.43x
Warwickshire 3 0.37x
Bedfordshire 2 1.21x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.52x
Norfolk 1 0.20x
Shropshire 1 0.36x
Somerset 1 0.19x
Wigtownshire 1 2.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Ham in Essex leads with 23 Applefords recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.49x.

Place Total Index
West Ham 23 16.49x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 15 25.39x
Steventon 15 4687.50x
Chawton 12 2307.69x
Little Coggeshall 12 3000.00x
Camberwell 11 5.38x
Baydon 10 3030.30x
Portsea 10 7.78x
Tilehurst 10 206.19x
Binfield 9 489.13x
Croydon 9 10.40x
Hampstead Norris 8 529.80x
Hook 8 114.78x
St Mary Extra 8 151.52x
Banstead 7 165.88x
Battersea 7 5.95x
Bishops Sutton 7 1489.36x
Bugthorpe 7 2692.31x
Leyton Low 7 54.52x
Catmore 6 6666.67x
St Pancras London 5 1.94x
St Peter Cornhill London 5 3846.15x
Stourbridge 5 46.51x
Wandsworth 5 16.23x
Caversham 4 101.27x
Fulham London 4 8.62x
Hungerford 4 123.08x
Stoke Newington London 4 16.05x
Swindon 4 18.22x
Woolwich 4 9.92x
Droxford 3 120.00x
Haslemere 3 243.90x
Hawley 3 241.94x
Islington London 3 0.97x
Lambeth 3 1.08x
Portland 3 26.57x
Ramsbury 3 117.19x
Reading St Mary 3 15.59x
Southampton St Mary 3 7.27x
Didcot 2 487.80x
East West Hagbourn 2 246.91x
Houghton Regis 2 75.76x
Hurley 2 160.00x
Irthlingborough 2 67.80x
Kensington London 2 1.12x
Kettering 2 16.43x
Limehouse London 2 5.69x
Northwood 2 21.41x
Sheffield 2 1.98x
St Michael Winchester 2 149.25x
St Thomas Winchester 2 43.20x
Westbourne 2 74.35x
Acrise 1 416.67x
Aston 1 0.45x
Bintree 1 200.00x
Birmingham 1 0.37x
Broadwater 1 8.08x
Christchurch 1 7.03x
Compton 1 144.93x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 1.55x
Gravesend 1 10.82x
Grays Thurrock 1 17.04x
Hurst 1 31.85x
Lambourn 1 42.02x
Lavington West 1 500.00x
Marlborough St Peter St 1 68.49x
Newbury 1 13.00x
St George Bloomsbury 1 5.45x
St Mary Kalendar 1 72.99x
Stoke 1 13.59x
Subdeanery 1 24.45x
Sunbury 1 26.04x
Tonbridge 1 2.54x
Upton Cum Chalvey 1 12.97x
Wargrave 1 48.54x
Warwick St Mary 1 14.29x
White Waltham 1 111.11x
Whitechapel London 1 3.17x
Whithorn 1 30.86x
Worfield 1 52.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 17
Elizabeth 12
Sarah 12
Jane 9
Emma 8
Emily 7
Alice 5
Ann 5
Annie 5
Caroline 5
Eliza 5
Ellen 5
Florence 5
Kate 5
Louisa 5
Eleanor 3
Ethel 3
Frances 3
Hannah 3
Martha 3
Bonella 2
Charlotte 2
Fanny 2
Gertrude 2
Margaret 2
Rose 2
Susan 2
Amy 1
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Bildah 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Eliz.A. 1
Eliz.P. 1
Eva 1
Flora 1
Florance 1
Harriett 1
Harriott 1
Helen 1
Hilda 1
Justine 1
Kathleen 1
Lillias 1
Lois 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Marriett 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 20
John 16
George 12
Henry 12
Thomas 11
Edward 10
James 10
Charles 7
Alfred 5
Joseph 5
Richard 4
Albert 3
Frederick 3
Harry 3
Isaac 3
Robert 3
Walter 3
Daniel 2
Reginald 2
Abram 1
Aleford 1
Anthony 1
Arthur 1
Authur 1
Chas.Robt.Armstrong 1
Danill 1
Earnest 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Gus 1
Herbert 1
Jacob 1
Mark 1
Philip 1
Terence 1
Thos 1
Wm. 1
Wm.G. 1

FAQ

Appleford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Appleford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 329 people were recorded with the Appleford surname. That placed it at #9,107 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Appleford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 268 in 2016. That gives Appleford a modern rank of #16,003.

What does the Appleford surname mean?

An English locational surname originating from a place where apple trees grew.

What does the Appleford map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Appleford 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.