Appleby is an English surname with topographic and locative origins, derived from places named Appleby in England. The name comes from Old English æppel "apple" and Old Norse býr "farm, settlement",EtymologyThe surname Appleby originates from various English towns and villages bearing the same name. The most notable is Appleby-in-Westmorland, the historic county town of Westmorland. The name element -by comes from Old Norse býr, meaning "farm" or "settlement," and is common in areas of Danish settlement during the Danelaw, such as Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. The first element æppel likely refers to apple trees or an apple orchard associated with the settlement.Geographic DistributionWhile the surname is chiefly found in England, it also appears in other English-speaking countries due to migration. The surname can be locational, describing someone from any of several Appleby villages, making it polygenetic in origin.Notable BearersJohn Appleby (contemporary British racing driver)Montford Appleby (historian, professor)Shiri Appleby (American actress)Meaning: Apple farm or settlementOrigin: EnglishType: Locative surnameUsage regions: England, English-speaking world