This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Appleton.' Parishes in the Dioceses of Norwich, Oxford, York (3), and Ripon. The meaning is obvious: appel or appil, apple, and ton, a town, an enclosure; compare Appleyard and Applegarth. Many places would naturally acquire such a title. There are townships so called in Lancashire and Cheshire.

Thomas de Appelton, Oxfordshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Wydo de Appelton, Yorkshire, ibid.

Willelmus de Appilton, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Reginald de Apulton, rector of Flitcham, Norfolk, 1369: History of Norfolk.

William de Appleton, rector of Titchwell, Norfolk, 1376: ibid.

Mabel Apulton, Norwich, 1456: ibid.

1604. Christopher Appleton and Mary Lovelasse: Marriage Lic. (Westminster).

1687. William Appelton and Mary Steele: Marriage Lic. (London).

Probably from Appleton in Yorkshire although there is more than one place of the name in England. Robert de Aplinden or Aplintoune in Annandale was forfeited in the reign of Robert Bruce (RMS., I, p. 520). Robert de Aplinton or Appylton had a charter of land in the burgh of Invemys from Robert II in 1378 (RMS., I, 649,683), and two years later, as de Apyltoun, he reappears as a burgess and person of consequence in the burgh (Invernessiana, p. 79, 80). He is doubtless the Robert of Appyltoun who witnessed a charter by Hugh Fraser, lord of Kynnelle, of land in Angus c. 1390 (Southesk. p. 718). compare Aplindene.

(English) belonging to Appleton=the Or­chard or the Apple (-Tree)-Farm.

[Old English æppel + tún].

(English) One who came from Appleton (place where apples grew), the name of various places in England.

Parishes and places in co?. Berks, Chester, Lancaster, Norfolk, York, &c.

Local. The town abounding in apples.

(English), Orchard. John Appleton, of co. Suffolk, gent., died in 1414. From him sprang Samuel Appleton, who emigrated to New England in 1635, and was ancestor of the Hon. Nathan Appleton, Member of Congress, and the Hon. William Appleton, M.C.

A location name in Lancashire, Norfolk, Yorkshire.

The Appletons of Lancashire have taken the name of a village in the county. The surname is better represented in the North and East Ridings of Yorkshire.

Yorkshire and Lancashire have been for ages the principal homes of the Appletons, who derive their name in this part of England from several townships in the North Riding and from a Lancashire village John de Appelton represented York in the parliament in the reign of Edward II. William Appleton was sheriff of that city in the reign of James II. (D.). The Appletons were a well - known Beverley family during the 17th and 18th centuries; and on six occasions they filled the office of mayor, being originally mercers and afterwards gentlefolk (P. B.). Henry Appleton was an alderman of Hull in the time of Cromwell (T. H.). The Appletons are still represented in York, Beverley, and Hull. There was an old family of this name at Deddington, Oxfordshire (Marshall's "Deddington"), that probably derived its name from a parish or village of this name in the adjacent county of Berks.