Eplett

This very unusual and interesting name seems to be confined to Cornwall, although there are some examples of the name recorded in London in the late 18th century. It is an example of a surname created from a nickname, in this case 'apple' a term of endearment and also possibly used to describe someone with rosy cheeks, like an apple. The Old English pre 7th century word for apple was 'oeppel', 'eplett' being a diminutive form of the name. It could also have been used as a topographic name for someone living by an apple orchard, or as an occupational name for a grower or seller of apples. The name development has included the following variants: Epilet, Euplate, Eplate, Epelett and Ipplett. One Anne Eplett married Humphry Treskelerd at Camborne, Cornwall in 1651. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Margaret Eplett. which was dated Christened 25th May 1550, in the "St.Columb Major", Cornwall. during the reign of King Edward V1, known as "The Boy King" 1547 - 1553. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.