UK surname
A surname denoting someone from a place with sweet-tasting apples or apple orchards.
In the 1881 census there were 81 people recorded with the Sweetapple surname, ranking it #22,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 53, ranked #34,727, down from #22,082 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Poole St James, St Leonard Shoreditch and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sweetapple is 111 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 34.6%.
1881 census count
81
Ranked #22,082
Modern count
53
2016, ranked #34,727
Peak year
1901
111 bearers
Map years
1
1901 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Sweetapple surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Sweetapple surname density by area, 1901 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 49 | #24,448 |
| 1861 | historical | 73 | #24,492 |
| 1881 | historical | 81 | #22,082 |
| 1891 | historical | 98 | #24,313 |
| 1901 | historical | 111 | #21,492 |
| 1911 | historical | 99 | #22,850 |
| 1997 | modern | 58 | #31,831 |
| 1998 | modern | 57 | #32,226 |
| 1999 | modern | 58 | #32,268 |
| 2000 | modern | 59 | #32,217 |
| 2001 | modern | 56 | #32,379 |
| 2002 | modern | 58 | #32,564 |
| 2003 | modern | 56 | #32,797 |
| 2004 | modern | 56 | #33,067 |
| 2005 | modern | 53 | #33,528 |
| 2006 | modern | 52 | #33,923 |
| 2007 | modern | 57 | #33,800 |
| 2008 | modern | 54 | #34,232 |
| 2009 | modern | 58 | #34,144 |
| 2010 | modern | 54 | #34,582 |
| 2011 | modern | 55 | #34,502 |
| 2012 | modern | 50 | #34,814 |
| 2013 | modern | 57 | #34,538 |
| 2014 | modern | 55 | #34,649 |
| 2015 | modern | 54 | #34,675 |
| 2016 | modern | 53 | #34,727 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Poole St James, St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, Lytchett Matravers and Canford Magna. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poole St James | Dorset |
| 2 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Lytchett Matravers | Dorset |
| 5 | Canford Magna | Dorset |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Sweetapple surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Sweetapple, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Sweetapple surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Sweetapple household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Sweetapple is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sweetapple is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Sweetapple, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname SWEETAPPLE is of English origin, originating in the late 13th century. It is a locational name derived from a place name that once referred to an apple orchard, likely in Worcestershire or the West Midlands region. The name is a combination of the Old English words "swete" meaning sweet, and "æppel" meaning apple.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name is found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which mentions a William Swetapple from Worcestershire. The name is also found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a John Swetapel is listed as a taxpayer.
The surname SWEETAPPLE has seen various spellings over the centuries, including Swetapel, Swetapple, Swetappel, and Sweetapple. These variations reflect the evolution of the English language and regional dialects.
In the 16th century, the SWEETAPPLE family held lands in Worcestershire, as evidenced by records in the Feet of Fines from 1540, which mention a Thomas SWEETAPPLE of Hanbury, Worcestershire.
Notable individuals bearing the SWEETAPPLE surname include:
1. Richard SWEETAPPLE (c. 1520 - 1590), a landowner and wool merchant from Worcestershire, known for his involvement in local politics and philanthropy.
2. Elizabeth SWEETAPPLE (1631 - 1705), an English Quaker and author who wrote several religious tracts and pamphlets advocating for pacifism and social justice.
3. John SWEETAPPLE (1680 - 1748), a renowned clockmaker from Warwickshire, whose intricate timepieces were highly sought after by the gentry of the time.
4. William SWEETAPPLE (1762 - 1836), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and was commended for his bravery in the Battle of Trafalgar.
5. Emily SWEETAPPLE (1844 - 1922), an English botanist and educator, who made significant contributions to the study of plant taxonomy and was a pioneer in promoting scientific education for women.
While the name SWEETAPPLE is not among the most common surnames today, its rich history and connection to the English countryside and language make it a fascinating example of the diverse origins and meanings of surnames.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sweetapple surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Dorset leads with 18 Sweetapples recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.29x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Longfleet in Dorset leads with 11 Sweetapples recorded in 1881 and an index of 1803.28x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Longfleet | 11 | 1803.28x |
| Laverstoke | 8 | 16000.00x |
| Bexley | 7 | 290.46x |
| Bermondsey | 6 | 25.20x |
| Bromley London | 6 | 34.09x |
| Reigate Foreign | 5 | 118.48x |
| Chelsea London | 4 | 16.60x |
| Godalming | 4 | 163.27x |
| Snodland | 4 | 519.48x |
| Holdenhurst | 3 | 69.77x |
| Mile End Old Town | 3 | 23.75x |
| West Ham | 3 | 8.61x |
| Evershot | 2 | 1428.57x |
| Kingsley | 2 | 1538.46x |
| Lytchett Matravers | 2 | 1052.63x |
| Poole St James | 2 | 101.52x |
| West Harnham | 2 | 2500.00x |
| Brighton | 1 | 3.68x |
| Chard | 1 | 64.10x |
| Chislehurst | 1 | 68.49x |
| Kimpton | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Kings Somborne | 1 | 294.12x |
| St Peter Port | 1 | 22.83x |
| Stanwell | 1 | 169.49x |
| Wimborne Minster | 1 | 117.65x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Sweetapple surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Sweetapple surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Sweetapple households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 19 |
| General Labourer | 4 |
| (Teacher School) | 3 |
| Lodging House Keeper | 3 |
| Domestic Serv | 2 |
| Paper Maker | 2 |
| Agricultural Laborer | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Carpentor | 1 |
| Chemists Apprentice | 1 |
| Domestic Sevt | 1 |
| Farm Lab | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| House Decorator | 1 |
| House Keeper | 1 |
| Householder | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Mariner | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| None | 1 |
| Nurse Dom Serv | 1 |
| Packer Factory | 1 |
| Paper Manufacturer | 1 |
| Railway Office Clerk | 1 |
| Retired Tea Dealer | 1 |
| Sailor | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Teacher School) | 1 |
| Undergraduate Oxford (Student) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 81 people were recorded with the Sweetapple surname. That placed it at #22,082 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 53 in 2016. That gives Sweetapple a modern rank of #34,727.
A surname denoting someone from a place with sweet-tasting apples or apple orchards.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sweetapple bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.