Surname Apeldorn - Meaning and Origin

Apeldorn: What does the surname Apeldorn mean?

The last name Apeldorn is believed to have Dutch origins. It is a locational surname derived from a village in the north of the Netherlands called Appingedam.

One root of the name Apeldorn is the Old Dutch word "appel", which means "apple". The second part of the name can be attributed to "dor", which means "a village" or "a small town". Taken together, Apeldorn is believed to mean "apple village".

It is thought that when families with the surname Apeldorn travelled to other places, they took the name of their village with them and it was eventually used as their last name.

This is also supported by the fact that the name continues to remain popular in the Netherlands, as well as in places where Dutch settlers had emigrated to such as America, Canada, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.

It is likely that the original name was phonetically spelled differently over time, resulting in variations of the name such as Appelterron, Appeltorn and Apeldoorn.

Overall, the last name Apeldorn holds a long and proud history amongst families in the Netherlands and around the world. The name continues to remind us of generations of Dutch families who built better lives for themselves away from their original village.

Apeldorn: Where does the name Apeldorn come from?

Apeldorn is an uncommon name, although it is known as a Van Apeldoorn, which is a Dutch surname found most prevalently in the Netherlands, specifically in the province of Noord Brabant. It has been recorded in the Netherlands since the 1600s and is still quite common in the region today.

While the population that carries the surname Apeldorn in the Netherlands has seen some decline due to emigration, it has also spread across the world to other countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and the United States. The surname is also popular within the Jewish community, where there is an old family name of “Van Apeldorn”, with origins in the Netherlands.

In the United States, the surname is most common in the Midwest and on the East Coast, specifically in the states of California, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Ohio. Most of the Apeldorn families in the United States are of Dutch descent, with Pennsylvania having the largest concentration of family members with the surname.

Today, the Apeldorn surname is still used and common among families in the Netherlands and is starting to see a resurgence in the United States and other countries due to families reconnecting with their heritage and returning to their ancestral homes.

Variations of the surname Apeldorn

The surname Apeldorn is an anglicization of the Dutch surname Apelblom, which literally translates to "apple tree flower". Variations on the name can take many forms. The surname Apelblom can be found in its original spelling, as well as in the anglicized form of Apeldorn and Apoldorn. Other variations on the surname include Appelblom, Appoldorn, Apeltorn, Apulblom, Appelthorn, Apoltorn, Appeldorn, Appoldorn, Apoldorn, Apidorn, Apoldorn, Appelhorn, Appelbloem, Ploeger, Pelberg, Apolders, Apuluers, Appulen, and Appelen.

The surname Apeldorn is typically found in Holland, Belgium, Germany, and the United States. It is most commonly seen in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, however, it can also be found in other countries, such as the United States. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Apelblom are found in the Netherlands in the late 1700’s, when this surname was primarily found in the provinces of North and South Holland.

The Apelblom surname has its roots in the Germanic language, with the prefix ‘apel’ being derived from the Germanic element ‘apelli’ meaning ‘apple’. The suffix ‘blom’ is derived from the Germanic element ‘bloem’ meaning ‘flower’. Thus, the overall meaning of the surname Apeldorn is ‘apple tree flower’.

Famous people with the name Apeldorn

• Nicole Apleldorn: A Belgian singer and songwriter who has released several albums including “Battlefield” and “Come Along”.
• Saddam Apleldorn: A former professional footballer who played for FC Emmen in the Netherlands between 1992 and 1997 before ending his career due to recurring injuries.
• Dolphus Apleldorn: A Dutch entrepreneur and philanthropist who founded the Fo Guang Shan Foundation, an international charity organization that provides humanitarian aid, education, and disaster relief.
• Joost Apleldorn: An award-winning Dutch film director, screenwriter, and producer whose films include “Koude Spelen” and “Dynamite Kingdom”.
• Sven Apleldorn: An Olympic athlete who competed for the Netherlands at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona and won the bronze medal in the men's 400m hurdles.
• Professor Yvonne Apleldorn: A Dutch professor of psychology at the University of Amsterdam and an expert on the effects of trauma and chronic stress on mental health.
• Donna Apleldorn: A Canadian author and editor who has published short stories, autobiography, and non-fiction throughout her career.
• Willem Apleldorn: A Dutch politician representing the Labour Party in the Tweede Kamer since 2015.
• Jaclyn Apleldorn: A popular American singer-songwriter who has released several solo albums, such as “Dreams of Spring” and “Strength of Hearts”.
• Kees Apleldorn: A Dutch chef and restaurateur who owned the renowned La Maison Apleldorn restaurant in Amsterdam for over 25 years.

Other surnames

Apeldoorn