Map of England showing where the Appleby arms are recorded
The Appleby arms were recorded in Leicestershire, c. 1620.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Appleby arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Leicestershire.
Origin & History of the Appleby Family in England
The surname Appleby is a locational name, meaning it was originally taken from a place name to identify where a person lived or came from. The name is derived from the Old Norse word "apall," meaning apple, and the Old Danish word "by," meaning a farmstead or village. This suggests that early members of the family likely lived in or near an orchard settlement. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Appleby family were well-established in Leicestershire, England. During this period, families often moved from small rural villages to larger market towns to find work in agriculture or local trades. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, leaving behind records in parish registers and tax documents that help historians trace their presence in the English Midlands.
Appleby Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
apaldre and by
Old English for apple tree and Old Norse for a settlement.
This name
ApplebyA dweller at or near an apple orchard or farmstead.
also spelled
Apleby
Appleby
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Leicestershire Archives, Parish Register Transcripts for Leicestershire, 1620
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
