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

Snake, 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 Snake surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Snake in America

Snake is the 151532nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Snake surname appeared 108 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Snake.

The history of the last name Snake

The surname "SNAKE" has its origins in the Old English word "snaca", which means "serpent" or "snake". This surname is believed to have originated in England during the Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century.

The name "SNAKE" was likely derived from a nickname or occupational name given to someone who worked with snakes, perhaps a snake charmer or a seller of snake-based remedies. It may also have been bestowed upon someone who was perceived to have snake-like characteristics, such as being sly, cunning, or stealthy.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "SNAKE" can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from the year 1273, where a person named Willelmus Snake is mentioned. Another early reference is in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1332, which lists a John Snake.

In the 14th century, the surname appears in various spellings, such as "Snakke", "Snaik", and "Snayke", reflecting the phonetic variations of the time. The Hundred Rolls of Wiltshire from 1273 mention a Reginald Snakke, while the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 list a William Snaik.

One notable bearer of the surname "SNAKE" was John Snake (c. 1510-1586), an English Protestant reformer and clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Chester and the Bishop of Bangor. Another was Thomas Snake (1630-1689), an English clergyman and writer who authored works on theology and philosophy.

In the 17th century, the surname "SNAKE" was found in various regions of England, including Essex, where a family by the name of Snake owned the manor of Little Bardfield. Henry Snake (1618-1689) was a member of this family and served as the Rector of Ramsey in Essex.

Later, in the 18th century, there was a notable family of Snakes who were landowners in Northamptonshire. One member of this family was William Snake (1741-1818), who served as the High Sheriff of Northamptonshire in 1781.

Another historical figure with the surname "SNAKE" was Richard Snake (1654-1726), an English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of calculus and the theory of equations.

While the surname "SNAKE" is relatively uncommon in modern times, it continues to hold a unique place in the history of English surnames, reflecting the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of the country.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Snake

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

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 Snake 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.

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 Snake was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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