diff --git a/applications/utilities/mesh/advanced/refinementLevel/refinementLevel.C b/applications/utilities/mesh/advanced/refinementLevel/refinementLevel.C
index 9d5c334970..efe0e075a8 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/mesh/advanced/refinementLevel/refinementLevel.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/mesh/advanced/refinementLevel/refinementLevel.C
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Copyright (C) 2011-2016 OpenFOAM Foundation
-    Copyright (C) 2019 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2019-2023 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ Description
 #include "Time.H"
 #include "polyMesh.H"
 #include "cellSet.H"
-#include "SortableList.H"
+#include "SortList.H"
 #include "labelIOList.H"
 #include "fvMesh.H"
 #include "volFields.H"
@@ -128,71 +128,54 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
     const scalarField& vols = mesh.cellVolumes();
 
-    SortableList<scalar> sortedVols(vols);
+    SortList<scalar> sortedVols(vols);
 
     // All cell labels, sorted per bin.
     DynamicList<DynamicList<label>> bins;
 
     // Lower/upper limits
-    DynamicList<scalar> lowerLimits;
-    DynamicList<scalar> upperLimits;
+    DynamicList<scalarMinMax> limits;
 
     // Create bin0. Have upperlimit as factor times lowerlimit.
-    bins.append(DynamicList<label>());
-    lowerLimits.append(sortedVols[0]);
-    upperLimits.append(1.1 * lowerLimits.last());
+    bins.emplace_back();
+    limits.emplace_back(sortedVols[0], 1.1*sortedVols[0]);
 
     forAll(sortedVols, i)
     {
-        if (sortedVols[i] > upperLimits.last())
+        if (sortedVols[i] > limits.back().max())
         {
             // New value outside of current bin
-
-            // Shrink old bin.
-            DynamicList<label>& bin = bins.last();
-
-            bin.shrink();
-
-            Info<< "Collected " << bin.size() << " elements in bin "
-                << lowerLimits.last() << " .. "
-                << upperLimits.last() << endl;
+            Info<< "Collected " << bins.back() << " elements in bin "
+                << limits.back().min() << " .. "
+                << limits.back().max() << endl;
 
             // Create new bin.
-            bins.append(DynamicList<label>());
-            lowerLimits.append(sortedVols[i]);
-            upperLimits.append(1.1 * lowerLimits.last());
+            bins.emplace_back();
+            limits.emplace_back(sortedVols[i], 1.1 * sortedVols[i]);
 
-            Info<< "Creating new bin " << lowerLimits.last()
-                << " .. " << upperLimits.last()
-                << endl;
+            Info<< "Creating new bin "
+                << limits.back().min() << " .. "
+                << limits.back().max() << endl;
         }
 
-        // Append to current bin.
-        DynamicList<label>& bin = bins.last();
-
-        bin.append(sortedVols.indices()[i]);
+        // Add to current bin.
+        bins.back().push_back(sortedVols.indices()[i]);
     }
     Info<< endl;
 
-    bins.last().shrink();
-    bins.shrink();
-    lowerLimits.shrink();
-    upperLimits.shrink();
-
-
     //
     // Write to cellSets.
     //
 
     Info<< "Volume bins:" << nl;
-    forAll(bins, binI)
+    forAll(bins, bini)
     {
-        const DynamicList<label>& bin = bins[binI];
+        const auto& bin = bins[bini];
 
-        cellSet cells(mesh, "vol" + name(binI), bin.size());
+        cellSet cells(mesh, "vol" + Foam::name(bini), bin.size());
         cells.insert(bin);
 
-        Info<< "    " << lowerLimits[binI] << " .. " << upperLimits[binI]
+        Info<< "    " << limits[bini].min() << " .. " << limits[bini].max()
             << "  : writing " << bin.size() << " cells to cellSet "
             << cells.name() << endl;
 
@@ -294,13 +277,13 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     );
 
     // Set cell values
-    forAll(bins, binI)
+    forAll(bins, bini)
     {
-        const DynamicList<label>& bin = bins[binI];
+        const auto& bin = bins[bini];
 
         forAll(bin, i)
         {
-            refLevel[bin[i]] = bins.size() - binI - 1;
+            refLevel[bin[i]] = bins.size() - bini - 1;
             postRefLevel[bin[i]] = refLevel[bin[i]];
         }
     }
diff --git a/applications/utilities/mesh/manipulation/createPatch/createPatch.C b/applications/utilities/mesh/manipulation/createPatch/createPatch.C
index f19b1f1b07..d27d6df829 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/mesh/manipulation/createPatch/createPatch.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/mesh/manipulation/createPatch/createPatch.C
@@ -148,21 +148,15 @@ void matchPatchFaces
                 // Mesh 0
                 //~~~~~~~
 
-                interfaceMesh0.append(labelList());
-                auto& intMesh0 = interfaceMesh0.last();
-                intMesh0.setSize(nSourcei, -1);
+                auto& intMesh0 = interfaceMesh0.emplace_back(nSourcei, -1);
                 intMesh0[sourcei] = meshi;
 
-                interfaceSource0.append(sourcei);
+                interfaceSource0.push_back(sourcei);
 
-                interfacePatch0.append(labelList());
-                auto& intPatch0 = interfacePatch0.last();
-                intPatch0.setSize(nSourcei, -1);
+                auto& intPatch0 = interfacePatch0.emplace_back(nSourcei, -1);
                 intPatch0[sourcei] = ppi.index();
 
-                interfaceNames0.append(wordList());
-                auto& intNames0 = interfaceNames0.last();
-                intNames0.setSize(nSourcei);
+                auto& intNames0 = interfaceNames0.emplace_back(nSourcei);
                 intNames0[sourcei] =
                     patchName(entryName, meshes[meshi], meshes[meshj]);
 
@@ -170,33 +164,23 @@ void matchPatchFaces
                 // Mesh 1
                 //~~~~~~~
 
-                interfaceMesh1.append(labelList());
-                auto& intMesh1 = interfaceMesh1.last();
-                intMesh1.setSize(nSourcej, -1);
+                auto& intMesh1 = interfaceMesh1.emplace_back(nSourcej, -1);
                 intMesh1[sourcej] = meshj;
 
-                interfaceSource1.append(sourcej);
+                interfaceSource1.push_back(sourcej);
 
-                interfacePatch1.append(labelList());
-                auto& intPatch1 = interfacePatch1.last();
-                intPatch1.setSize(nSourcej, -1);
+                auto& intPatch1 = interfacePatch1.emplace_back(nSourcej, -1);
                 intPatch1[sourcej] = ppj.index();
 
-                interfaceNames1.append(wordList());
-                auto& intNames1 = interfaceNames1.last();
-                intNames1.setSize(nSourcej);
+                auto& intNames1 = interfaceNames1.emplace_back(nSourcej);
                 intNames1[sourcej] =
                     patchName(entryName, meshes[meshj], meshes[meshi]);
 
-                interfaceFaces0.append(List<DynamicList<label>>());
-                auto& intFaces0 = interfaceFaces0.last();
-                intFaces0.setSize(nSourcei);
+                auto& intFaces0 = interfaceFaces0.emplace_back(nSourcei);
                 DynamicList<label>& faces0 = intFaces0[sourcei];
                 faces0.setCapacity(ppi.size());
 
-                interfaceFaces1.append(List<DynamicList<label>>());
-                auto& intFaces1 = interfaceFaces1.last();
-                intFaces1.setSize(nSourcej);
+                auto& intFaces1 = interfaceFaces1.emplace_back(nSourcej);
                 DynamicList<label>& faces1 = intFaces1[sourcej];
                 faces1.setCapacity(ppj.size());
 
@@ -249,7 +233,7 @@ void matchPatchFaces
                     {
                         if (weights[facei] > 0.5 || sourceMask[facei] > SMALL)
                         {
-                            faces0.append(ppi.start()+facei);
+                            faces0.push_back(ppi.start()+facei);
                         }
                     }
                 }
@@ -259,7 +243,7 @@ void matchPatchFaces
                     {
                         if (weights[facei] > 0.5 || targetMask[facei] > SMALL)
                         {
-                            faces1.append(ppj.start()+facei);
+                            faces1.push_back(ppj.start()+facei);
                         }
                     }
                 }
@@ -825,7 +809,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
             if (pDict.get<word>("constructFrom") == "autoPatch")
             {
-                interRegionSources[meshi].append(sourcei);
+                interRegionSources[meshi].push_back(sourcei);
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/dynamicMesh/polyTopoChange/polyTopoChange/hexRef8/hexRef8.C b/src/dynamicMesh/polyTopoChange/polyTopoChange/hexRef8/hexRef8.C
index ec0107694e..ad16095498 100644
--- a/src/dynamicMesh/polyTopoChange/polyTopoChange/hexRef8/hexRef8.C
+++ b/src/dynamicMesh/polyTopoChange/polyTopoChange/hexRef8/hexRef8.C
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Copyright (C) 2011-2017 OpenFOAM Foundation
-    Copyright (C) 2016-2022 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2016-2023 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -1810,9 +1810,7 @@ bool Foam::hexRef8::matchHexShape
             {
                 reverse(verts);
             }
-            quads.append(face(0));
-            labelList& quadVerts = quads.last();
-            quadVerts.transfer(verts);
+            quads.emplace_back(verts);
         }
     }
 
@@ -1891,9 +1889,7 @@ bool Foam::hexRef8::matchHexShape
 
                     if (verts.size() == 4)
                     {
-                        quads.append(face(0));
-                        labelList& quadVerts = quads.last();
-                        quadVerts.transfer(verts);
+                        quads.emplace_back(verts);
                     }
                 }
             }
@@ -2372,6 +2368,8 @@ Foam::labelList Foam::hexRef8::consistentSlowRefinement
 
         const refinementData& ownData = allCellInfo[faceOwner[facei]];
 
+        label maxDataCount = ownData.count();
+
         if (mesh_.isInternalFace(facei))
         {
             // Seed face if neighbouring cell (after possible refinement)
@@ -2379,46 +2377,18 @@ Foam::labelList Foam::hexRef8::consistentSlowRefinement
 
             const refinementData& neiData = allCellInfo[faceNeighbour[facei]];
 
-            label faceCount;
-            label faceRefineCount;
-            if (neiData.count() > ownData.count())
+            if (maxDataCount < neiData.count())
             {
-                faceCount = neiData.count() + maxFaceDiff;
-                faceRefineCount = faceCount + maxFaceDiff;
+                maxDataCount = neiData.count();
             }
-            else
-            {
-                faceCount = ownData.count() + maxFaceDiff;
-                faceRefineCount = faceCount + maxFaceDiff;
-            }
-
-            seedFaces.append(facei);
-            seedFacesInfo.append
-            (
-                refinementData
-                (
-                    faceRefineCount,
-                    faceCount
-                )
-            );
-            allFaceInfo[facei] = seedFacesInfo.last();
         }
-        else
-        {
-            label faceCount = ownData.count() + maxFaceDiff;
-            label faceRefineCount = faceCount + maxFaceDiff;
 
-            seedFaces.append(facei);
-            seedFacesInfo.append
-            (
-                refinementData
-                (
-                    faceRefineCount,
-                    faceCount
-                )
-            );
-            allFaceInfo[facei] = seedFacesInfo.last();
-        }
+        label faceCount = maxDataCount + maxFaceDiff;
+        label faceRefineCount = faceCount + maxFaceDiff;
+
+        seedFaces.push_back(facei);
+        allFaceInfo[facei] =
+            seedFacesInfo.emplace_back(faceRefineCount, faceCount);
     }
 
 
diff --git a/src/fileFormats/gltf/foamGltfList.C b/src/fileFormats/gltf/foamGltfList.C
index c38f6aec69..61f5ef6453 100644
--- a/src/fileFormats/gltf/foamGltfList.C
+++ b/src/fileFormats/gltf/foamGltfList.C
@@ -32,11 +32,11 @@ License
 template<class Type>
 Type& Foam::glTF::List<Type>::create(const word& name)
 {
-    Type obj(name);
-    obj.id() = data_.size();
-    data_.append(obj);
+    const label id = data_.size();
+    Type& obj = data_.emplace_back(name);
+    obj.id() = id;
 
-    return data_.last();
+    return data_.back();
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/lagrangian/intermediate/parcels/Templates/CollidingParcel/CollisionRecordList/CollisionRecordList.C b/src/lagrangian/intermediate/parcels/Templates/CollidingParcel/CollisionRecordList/CollisionRecordList.C
index 3e38d8d720..45bd22b901 100644
--- a/src/lagrangian/intermediate/parcels/Templates/CollidingParcel/CollisionRecordList/CollisionRecordList.C
+++ b/src/lagrangian/intermediate/parcels/Templates/CollidingParcel/CollisionRecordList/CollisionRecordList.C
@@ -250,12 +250,7 @@ Foam::CollisionRecordList<PairType, WallType>::matchPairRecord
     // member of the list.  Setting the status of the record to be accessed
     // on construction.
 
-    pairRecords_.append
-    (
-        PairCollisionRecord<PairType>(true, origProcOfOther, origIdOfOther)
-    );
-
-    return pairRecords_.last();
+    return pairRecords_.emplace_back(true, origProcOfOther, origIdOfOther);
 }
 
 
@@ -307,9 +302,7 @@ Foam::CollisionRecordList<PairType, WallType>::matchWallRecord
     // member of the list.  Setting the status of the record to be accessed
     // on construction.
 
-    wallRecords_.append(WallCollisionRecord<WallType>(true, pRel));
-
-    return wallRecords_.last();
+    return wallRecords_.emplace_back(true, pRel);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/sampling/sampledSet/sampledSet/sampledSet.H b/src/sampling/sampledSet/sampledSet/sampledSet.H
index 8bfbd474be..8b36a3a2cd 100644
--- a/src/sampling/sampledSet/sampledSet/sampledSet.H
+++ b/src/sampling/sampledSet/sampledSet/sampledSet.H
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Copyright (C) 2011-2016 OpenFOAM Foundation
-    Copyright (C) 2017-2022 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2017-2023 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -245,9 +245,9 @@ public:
             autoPtr<sampledSet> operator()(Istream& is) const
             {
                 word name(is);
-                capture_.append(dictionary(is));
+                dictionary& dict = capture_.emplace_back(is);
 
-                return sampledSet::New(name, mesh_, search_, capture_.last());
+                return sampledSet::New(name, mesh_, search_, dict);
             }
         };
 
diff --git a/src/sampling/sampledSurface/sampledSurface/sampledSurface.H b/src/sampling/sampledSurface/sampledSurface/sampledSurface.H
index d7645b192c..3552639eb1 100644
--- a/src/sampling/sampledSurface/sampledSurface/sampledSurface.H
+++ b/src/sampling/sampledSurface/sampledSurface/sampledSurface.H
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Copyright (C) 2011-2016 OpenFOAM Foundation
-    Copyright (C) 2016-2022 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2016-2023 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -225,9 +225,9 @@ public:
             autoPtr<sampledSurface> operator()(Istream& is) const
             {
                 word name(is);
-                capture_.append(dictionary(is));
+                dictionary& dict = capture_.emplace_back(is);
 
-                return sampledSurface::New(name, mesh_, capture_.last());
+                return sampledSurface::New(name, mesh_, dict);
             }
         };
 
diff --git a/src/sampling/surface/isoSurface/isoSurfaceTopo.C b/src/sampling/surface/isoSurface/isoSurfaceTopo.C
index 1c8d10c1f6..9e04a21863 100644
--- a/src/sampling/surface/isoSurface/isoSurfaceTopo.C
+++ b/src/sampling/surface/isoSurface/isoSurfaceTopo.C
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Copyright (C) 2011-2019 OpenFOAM Foundation
-    Copyright (C) 2019-2022 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2019-2023 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -801,8 +801,7 @@ void Foam::isoSurfaceTopo::triangulateOutside
     {
         if (loop.size() > 2)
         {
-            compactFaces.append(face(loop.size()));
-            face& f = compactFaces.last();
+            face& f = compactFaces.emplace_back(loop.size());
 
             label fpi = 0;
             forAll(f, i)
@@ -1072,7 +1071,7 @@ Foam::isoSurfaceTopo::isoSurfaceTopo
             );
         }
     }
-    startTri.last() = tetCutAddr.nFaces();
+    startTri.back() = tetCutAddr.nFaces();
 
     // Information not needed anymore:
     tetBasePtIs.clear();
@@ -1080,7 +1079,7 @@ Foam::isoSurfaceTopo::isoSurfaceTopo
 
 
     // From list of vertices -> triangular faces
-    faceList allTriFaces(startTri.last());
+    faceList allTriFaces(startTri.back());
     {
         auto& verts = tetCutAddr.cutPoints();
 
@@ -1097,7 +1096,7 @@ Foam::isoSurfaceTopo::isoSurfaceTopo
 
 
     // The cells cut by the triangular faces
-    meshCells_.resize(startTri.last());
+    meshCells_.resize(startTri.back());
     for (label celli = 0; celli < startTri.size()-1; ++celli)
     {
         // All triangles for the current cell