Find out how popular the last name Applegate is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Applegate.

Applegate, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Applegate surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Applegate in America

Applegate is the 3046th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Applegate surname appeared 11,762 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Applegate.

We can also compare 2010 data for Applegate to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Applegate

The surname Applegate is of English origin, deriving from the Old English words "æppel" (meaning apple) and "geat" (meaning gate or opening). It is believed to have emerged in the 12th or 13th century as a topographic name, referring to an individual who lived near a gate or opening in an area known for its apple orchards or where apples were sold.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Applegate can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex, a historical record of taxation in England, dating back to 1195. This document mentions a "William de Apelgat," which is believed to be an early spelling variation of Applegate.

The surname Applegate is also mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, a tax record from 1296, where it appears as "Appelgate." This suggests that the name was well-established in the county of Sussex by the late 13th century.

In the 14th century, the surname Applegate appears in various forms, including "Apelgate" and "Appelgate," in records from various counties in England, such as Essex, Kent, and Lincolnshire.

One notable bearer of the Applegate surname was John Applegate, a member of the English Parliament who represented the borough of Westbury in Wiltshire in 1553.

Another prominent figure was Samuel Applegate (1620-1696), an early settler in the American colonies who arrived in New Jersey in 1677 and established a settlement along the Raritan River, which later became known as Applegate Plantation.

In the 18th century, John Applegate (1742-1836) served as a lieutenant in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, participating in several major battles, including the Battle of Monmouth.

The 19th century saw the rise of James Applegate (1830-1903), a prominent lawyer and politician from New Jersey who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1877 to 1879.

Lastly, one cannot overlook the contributions of Howard Applegate (1920-2006), an American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the Applegate Farms organization, which is known for its commitment to sustainable and humane animal farming practices.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the Applegate surname throughout history, showcasing its enduring presence and the diversity of fields in which bearers of this name have made their mark.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Applegate

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Applegate.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Applegate was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Applegate has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Applegate was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Applegate, please contact us.

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