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

Snelling, 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 Snelling surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Snelling in America

Snelling is the 7859th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Snelling surname appeared 4,210 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Snelling.

We can also compare 2010 data for Snelling to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Snelling

The surname Snelling originated in England, emerging in the late 12th century. It derives from the Old English word 'snell', meaning swift or active, and refers to an occupation or personal characteristic. The name was initially found in regions like Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex, where it was common among families residing in villages and towns.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Snelling surname appears in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk from 1199, where a Hugo Snelling is mentioned. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also contain references to individuals with this name, such as William Snelling from Oxfordshire. These early records provide insight into the name's widespread use during the medieval period.

The Snelling surname can be traced back to places like Snelling in Suffolk, which likely contributed to its origins. Variations in spelling, such as Snellynge and Snellyng, were common in historical documents due to inconsistent record-keeping practices.

Notable individuals with the Snelling surname include Thomas Snelling (1556-1594), an English poet and clergyman known for his religious works. Another prominent figure was William Snelling (1670-1720), an English historian and author who wrote about the history of Essex and Kent.

In the 18th century, Samuel Snelling (1738-1810) was a renowned English engraver and medallist, responsible for designing numerous coins and medals for the Royal Mint. His son, Thomas Snelling (1774-1852), followed in his footsteps as an engraver and numismatist.

The 19th century saw the emergence of John Snelling (1823-1901), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the St. Peter's Hospital and the Saville Row Estate.

Throughout its history, the Snelling surname has been well-represented across various professions and disciplines, reflecting its enduring presence in English society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Snelling

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

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 Snelling 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Snelling has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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

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

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