Snape
Referred to a person who manufactured or sold soap.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 583 Americans carry the last name Snape. That puts it at #42,163 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.17 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 587,915 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Snape surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
583
1 in 587,915
Census rank
#42,163
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
515
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 515 bearers of the surname Snape in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.17 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 42163rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Snape, the largest self-reported group is White at 60.0%. The next largest groups are Black (28.9%) and Hispanic (6.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Snape
The surname Snape originated in England, with the earliest known records dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word 'snæp', meaning a promontory or a projecting piece of land. The name was likely initially used as a toponymic, referring to someone who lived near or on a promontory.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Snape can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Snape' in the county of Suffolk. This suggests that the name was already established in the region at the time of the Norman Conquest.
In the 13th century, the surname Snape appears in various historical records, including the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1230, where a 'Robertus de Snape' is mentioned. The 'de' prefix indicates that the name was originally a locational surname, referring to a place called Snape.
The name Snape is also associated with several place names in England, such as Snape in Suffolk, Snape in North Yorkshire, and Snape in Lancashire. These place names likely derived from the same Old English word 'snæp', and may have contributed to the spread and adoption of the surname.
Notable individuals with the surname Snape throughout history include:
1. Sir John Snape (c. 1500 - 1563), an English lawyer and politician who served as Lord Chancellor of Ireland during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
2. Andrew Snape (1644 - 1708), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Eton College from 1694 until his death.
3. Edmund Snape (1742 - 1822), an English engraver and draughtsman known for his landscape etchings and illustrations of architectural works.
4. Henry Snape (1768 - 1847), an English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of planetary motion and the calculation of celestial orbits.
5. Richard Snape (1838 - 1888), an English painter and illustrator who specialized in depicting scenes from rural life and the countryside.
The name Snape has been documented in various historical records across different regions of England, indicating its widespread use and adoption over several centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Snape
Among Census respondents with the surname Snape, the largest self-reported group is White at 60.0%. The next largest groups are Black (28.9%) and Hispanic (6.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Snape bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Snape surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White60.0%
- Black or African American28.9%
- Hispanic or Latino6.4%
- Two or more races3.3%
- Unknown or suppressed1.4%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Snape surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #39,678 | #42,163 | -6.3% |
| Count | 521 | 515 | -1.2% |
| Per 100K | 0.19 | 0.17 | -10.5% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Snape bearers went from 521 to 515 (-1.2% change). The surname moved down 2,485 positions in the national ranking, going from #39,678 to #42,163.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Snape
FAQ
Snape surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Snape?
The surname Snape holds position #42,163 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 583 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.17 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Snape surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Snape, the largest self-reported group is White at 60.0%. The next largest groups are Black (28.9%) and Hispanic (6.4%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.