Yeah I can't even think of any recent CPUs that aren't based on previous designs. Even Apple's new M1 is an ARM derivative, which itself is based on an ancient computer from the 80s known as the "Acorn".

It's a bit poetic. They were directly competing with Apple at the time, and Acorn named themselves such so that they would appear in front of Apple in the phone book. Of course, they haven't existed in a long time, but 35-40 years later, Apple decides to use the great-grandson of Acorn's CPU in their new products.