A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Applegarth family of Wales.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Vert an ape sejant holding up the paw braced round the middle and chained to the sinister side of the escutcheon ar”
The Applegarth arms were recorded in Wales, c. 1647.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Denbigh.
Denbighshire was north Welsh country of hills and small estates. Land was held by a great many families rather than a few, and each holding brought its own claim to a coat of arms.
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 Wales in this period.
Reigning in Wales when the Applegarth arms are first recorded.
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.
The surname Applegarth is of locational origin, meaning it was originally taken from a specific place rather than a person. The name comes from the Old Norse words "apaldr," meaning apple tree, and "garðr," meaning an enclosure or garden. This suggests that the earliest families to carry the name likely lived near or managed an apple orchard. While the name has roots in Northern England, records confirm that members of the family were established in the Welsh town of Denbigh by 1647. During this period, the family would have been part of the local community as the town served as a significant center for trade and administration in North Wales. The transition of the name from a description of a landscape feature to a formal family identity reflects the common practice of using geographical landmarks to identify individuals in early modern society.
Old Norse for apple orchard or apple enclosure.
