NameCensus.

UK surname

Applegarth

An English habitational surname referring to someone who lived near an apple orchard.

In the 1881 census there were 199 people recorded with the Applegarth surname, ranking it #12,880 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 285, ranked #15,286, down from #12,880 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead and Auckland St Andrew. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield, East Riding of Yorkshire and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Applegarth is 319 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 43.2%.

1881 census count

199

Ranked #12,880

Modern count

285

2016, ranked #15,286

Peak year

2010

319 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Applegarth had 199 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,880 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 285 in 2016, ranked #15,286.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 280 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Applegarth surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Applegarth surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Applegarth 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 141 #13,507
1861 historical 123 #17,914
1881 historical 199 #12,880
1891 historical 223 #13,800
1901 historical 238 #13,528
1911 historical 280 #11,982
1997 modern 277 #14,253
1998 modern 288 #14,249
1999 modern 297 #14,053
2000 modern 307 #13,717
2001 modern 298 #13,784
2002 modern 305 #13,865
2003 modern 292 #14,065
2004 modern 284 #14,377
2005 modern 268 #14,905
2006 modern 268 #15,000
2007 modern 272 #14,994
2008 modern 281 #14,782
2009 modern 295 #14,594
2010 modern 319 #14,110
2011 modern 315 #14,131
2012 modern 310 #14,210
2013 modern 302 #14,690
2014 modern 309 #14,533
2015 modern 291 #15,078
2016 modern 285 #15,286

Geography

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Where Applegarths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, Auckland St Andrew, Stranton and Bishop Wearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield, East Riding of Yorkshire, County Durham and Darlington. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Auckland St Andrew Durham
4 Stranton Durham
5 Bishop Wearmouth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 008 Wakefield
2 East Riding of Yorkshire 032 East Riding of Yorkshire
3 County Durham 021 County Durham
4 Darlington 006 Darlington
5 County Durham 044 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Applegarth

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Applegarth

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Applegarth surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Applegarth household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Applegarth is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Applegarth 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

Applegarth falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Applegarth 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 Applegarth, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Applegarth

The surname Applegarth has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, referring to someone who lived near an apple orchard or a garden where apples were grown. The name is derived from the Old English words "æppel" meaning apple, and "geard" meaning yard or enclosure.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1197, where it is spelled "Apelgard." This suggests that the name was already established in northern England by the late 12th century. Over time, the spelling evolved to its modern form, Applegarth.

The name Applegarth is closely associated with the county of Yorkshire, where it was particularly prevalent in the medieval period. It is likely that many early bearers of the name were landowners or farmers who lived near apple orchards or had orchards on their properties.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named John Applegarth was mentioned in the Patent Rolls of 1348. He was a merchant from York, indicating that the name had spread beyond its rural origins and was being used in urban areas as well.

During the 16th century, the Applegarth family established themselves as prominent landowners in the Yorkshire region. One notable member was Thomas Applegarth (1521-1587), who was a wealthy landowner and benefactor to the church in the village of Appleton-le-Street.

In the 17th century, the name appears in various parish records across Yorkshire and neighboring counties. One notable bearer was Robert Applegarth (1628-1702), a Quaker and early settler in the British colony of Pennsylvania.

Another significant figure was John Applegarth (1712-1780), a noted mathematician and astronomer from Yorkshire. He made valuable contributions to the field of celestial mechanics and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1766.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the Applegarth family continued to be well-represented in various professions, including law, medicine, and academia. One notable example is Robert Applegarth (1834-1924), a prominent solicitor and philanthropist in Leeds.

While the name Applegarth has its roots in northern England, it has since spread to other parts of the British Isles and beyond, carried by descendants of the original bearers. Its enduring legacy is a testament to the historical and cultural significance of this distinctly English surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Applegarth families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Applegarth 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. Durham leads with 142 Applegarths recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.59x.

County Total Index
Durham 142 24.59x
Middlesex 22 1.13x
Yorkshire 12 0.62x
Lancashire 7 0.30x
Northumberland 6 2.08x
Kent 4 0.60x
Surrey 2 0.21x
Wiltshire 2 1.17x
Hampshire 1 0.25x
Hertfordshire 1 0.75x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cornforth in Durham leads with 15 Applegarths recorded in 1881 and an index of 882.35x.

Place Total Index
Cornforth 15 882.35x
Iveston 13 488.72x
West Auckland 11 521.33x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 10 39.98x
Raby Keverstone 10 5263.16x
Bishopwearmouth 9 18.16x
Southwick 8 146.25x
Coatsaw Moor 7 70000.00x
Ferryhill 7 346.53x
Sedgefield 7 339.81x
Chelsea London 6 10.26x
Hackney London 6 5.51x
Brandon Byshottles 5 69.16x
Chirton 5 76.45x
Guisbrough 5 119.05x
Piercebridge 5 3571.43x
Radcliffe 5 45.05x
St Pancras London 5 3.20x
East Murton 4 370.37x
Elvet 4 95.92x
Penshaw 4 231.21x
Croft 3 833.33x
Shildon 3 64.66x
Whitton 3 666.67x
Auckland St Andrew 2 131.58x
Bishop Auckland 2 25.81x
Brafferton Barmpton 2 1052.63x
Everton 2 2.72x
Heighington 2 476.19x
Lewisham 2 5.66x
St George Bloomsbury 2 17.95x
St George Martyr London 2 50.89x
Swindon 2 15.03x
Aldershot 1 7.50x
Barnard Castle 1 35.09x
Camberwell 1 0.81x
Canterbury St Mary 1 22.52x
Darlington 1 4.49x
Dartford 1 14.77x
East Thickley 1 85.47x
Harwood Dale 1 714.29x
Helmington Row 1 37.17x
Hutton Lowcross 1 625.00x
Jesmond 1 24.63x
Lambeth 1 0.59x
Middlesbrough 1 3.99x
Mordon 1 909.09x
Newbottle 1 31.75x
Ratcliffe London 1 9.33x
Redcar 1 65.36x
Redworth 1 270.27x
Staindrop 1 113.64x
Stockton On Tees 1 3.59x
Welwyn 1 86.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Elizabeth 11
Margaret 11
Hannah 7
Sarah 6
Isabella 5
Jane 4
Annie 3
Edith 3
Louisa 3
Maria 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Caroline 2
Eliza 2
Margret 2
Amelia 1
Anne 1
Catherine 1
Constance 1
Eleanor 1
Elizebeth 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
Lillian 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Marey 1
Margt. 1
Phoebe 1
Ruth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 16
Thomas 15
Robert 14
George 13
William 8
Richard 6
Henry 4
Alfred 2
Christopher 2
Edward 2
Fred 2
Joseph 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
David 1
Horace 1
James 1
Louis 1
Peter 1
Roderick 1
Sampson 1
Sydney 1
Thos. 1
Thos.Edwd. 1
Walter 1
Wm.Hry. 1

FAQ

Applegarth surname: questions and answers

How common was the Applegarth surname in 1881?

In 1881, 199 people were recorded with the Applegarth surname. That placed it at #12,880 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Applegarth surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 285 in 2016. That gives Applegarth a modern rank of #15,286.

What does the Applegarth surname mean?

An English habitational surname referring to someone who lived near an apple orchard.

What does the Applegarth map show?

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