Surname Appelman - Meaning and Origin

Appelman: What does the surname Appelman mean?

Appelman is a surname of Dutch origin which is thought to derive from the given name “Apol”, which was a short form of “Apollonius”, a name derived from the Greek god Apollo. The name Appelman was usually given to people who had an occupational connection with Apollonius, such as those who were involved in the making of wine and beer, or a religious connection, such as being a priest or worshipper. Over time the name has become a family name for many generations and is now found all across Europe, with the most Appelmans found in Holland, Germany, Belgium, France, and Ukraine.

The Appelman surname is also a patronymic name, which means it is derived from the father’s given name. In this case, Apollonius, is the ancestor of the Appelman surname. The name was often altered slightly according to the region where the family resided, with the Appelman surname commonly being found in its shortened form of Appel or Appelman.

Typically, Appelmans have been known for being loyal family members, while others are known for their business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit. No matter the context, the shared surname is a reminder of the roots of the Appelmans long ago.

Appelman: Where does the name Appelman come from?

The Appelman surname is most commonly found in the Netherlands today. It is an occupational surname derived from the Dutch word for apple tree—“appelboom.” It most likely originated as a surname for someone who worked in the apple orchards of early Dutch settlers.

The Appelman surname has been found in the Netherlands since the late 15th century, with one of the earliest recorded families being that of Jan Appelman, born in 1474 in Leiden. Over subsequent centuries, the Appelman name spread across the country, and it's now found throughout the Netherlands.

In the 21st century, the Appelman surname is fairly widespread in the Netherlands. It's particularly common in the more populous regions of North and South Holland, as well as the coastal provinces of Zeeland and Friesland.

Outside of the Netherlands, the Appelman surname is also found in various other countries around the world, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and Argentina. The Appelman surname is particularly common in the Midwestern and Great Lakes regions of the United States, particularly in the states of Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

Variations of the surname Appelman

The surname Appelman is of German, Dutch, Jewish, and English origin and is found primarily in the United States and the Netherlands. It is derived from the Middle German word “Appel” meaning apple and “mann” meaning man. Variations of this surname include Appleman, Appelmann, Appelman, Apelman, Apleman and Appelmon. It is also sometimes spelled as Appelmam, Appleman, Appelmam, Appelmen, Appelmenn, Apelmon, Appelmans and Apelmans.

In the United States, the Appelman surname is most common in the states of Pennsylvania and New York. In the Netherlands, the surname is commonly found in the provinces of South Holland, Utrecht, Zuid-Holland and Noord-Holland. In addition to Appelman, there are several other Dutch surnames with similar origins, including Appelvalk, Appelhagen, and Appelman. Other variants include Appelboom, Appeldoorn, Appelman, and Appelhof.

In Jewish communities, Appelman is a variant of the name Apfelbaum, which in Yiddish means “Apple Tree”. This is derived from the Middle German word for “apple”. Variations include Apfelbom, Appelbaum, and Apfelmann.

In English, the surname has derived from the Old English word appelmeop, meaning “apple tree”. Variations of this surname include Applemeop, Applemoop, Appelmeop, and Applemopp.

Overall, the Appelman surname has many variant spellings and surnames of the same origin. These possibilities provide an interesting window into the familial history and cultural heritage of those that carry the surname Appelman.

Famous people with the name Appelman

• Amanda Appelman: Canadian soccer player, currently playing for Sky Blue FC of the National Women's Soccer League.
• Annelies Appelman: Dutch sculptor who creates site-specific sculptures and installations such as “Thou Shall Not Pass” in 2009 and “The Making of a Memory” (2011).
• Daan Appelman: Dutch Olympic athlete, competing in the 4x100 meter relay during the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
• Donatus Appelman: Belgian soccer midfielder who is currently playing for Sint-Truiden in the Belgian Second Division.
• Eric Appelman: Dutch filmmaker and media artist known for his documentary work such as the film “The Big Mess”.
• Hugo Appelman: Dutch soccer player who was part of the Dutch National team in the early 2000s and currently plays for FC Volendam in the Dutch Eerste Divisie.
• Jan Appelman: Dutch politician and former mayor of Utrecht (2014–2018), previously serving as a member of the Dutch House of Representatives (2009–2014).
• Jan Willem Appelman: Dutch business general manager for Ibis Hotels France, who was previously at the French Ministry of Finance (2014–2016) and Banque de France (2009–2014).
• Johan Appelman: Dutch-born Canadian businessman and philanthropist, formerly the chairman of Westfield Group and the founder of the Appelman Foundation.
• Peter Appelman: Dutch politician who served as a Member of the European Parliament (2014–2019) and is presently a Member of the Dutch House of Representatives (since 2019).

Other surnames

AppelmannAppelmans