Appleton is an English surname of topographic and locative origin, deriving from the Old English elements æppel “apple” and tun “enclosure, yard,” meaning “orchard.” The name appears in numerous English place names, such as villages in Cheshire and Oxfordshire, and as a habitational surname for those who lived in or near an apple orchard. The surname may also have been given to someone who lived near an enclosure of apple trees, independently of a named settlement. Notable bearers of the Appleton surname include Appleton? related individuals from various fields. In entertainment, Fox news personality? wait – actually, let’s stick with what Wikipedia provides. Sir Henry Appleton (1386–1445) was an English knight and Member of Parliament for Yorkshire, while Edward Appleton (1810–1871) was a prominent British political activist for women’s rights. In sports, George Appleton (1884–1915) was an English footballer for Blackburn Rovers. Perhaps most famously, Daniel Appleton (1785–1849) co-founded the D. Appleton & Company publishing house in New York, which later became a part of the McGraw-Hill Education group. The Appleton surname ranks moderately among English surnames, concentrating in areas where early Anglican settlement occurred, as well as in North America due to emigration. Related place names and surnames such as Appel or Apel share similar roots. Note that in the United States, the city of Appleton, Wisconsin owes its name to Boston publisher Daniel Appleton (though he never settled there). Regions of usage: Northern England, East Anglia, United States, Canada. Meaning: “Orchard,” from Old English “orchard.” Historically, from āppel (“apple”) + tūn (“enclosure”). Origin: English – from settlers exiting areas so named in Middle English records. Type: Locative (place name) and topographic surname. Many variants exist due to dialect: Usage: A surname that originated among nobles in early England and then spread globally to over-cane areas by the 17th-19th centuries.