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

Snowden, 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 Snowden surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Snowden in America

Snowden is the 3233rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Snowden surname appeared 11,171 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Snowden.

We can also compare 2010 data for Snowden 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 Snowden

The surname Snowden is an English locational name derived from the place name Snawedun, recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as a manor in Yorkshire. The name is believed to have originated from the Old English words "snaw" meaning snow and "dun" meaning hill or down, referring to a snow-covered hill or a hill where snow often fell.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname can be traced back to the 13th century, with a record of Thomas de Snawedun in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1219. Over time, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Snowdon, Snawdon, and Snawdun, before settling on the modern form of Snowden.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname was William Snowden, a 16th-century English clergyman who served as the rector of St. Sepulchre's Church in Holborn, London, from 1521 to 1549.

In the 17th century, the Snowden family gained prominence in the American colonies. Richard Snowden (1610-1670), an English-born landowner and merchant, settled in Maryland and became a member of the colonial council. His descendants, including Samuel Snowden (1681-1748) and Randolph Snowden (1718-1790), played influential roles in the colonial government and society.

The 18th century saw the birth of Randolph Snowden (1750-1825), an American Revolutionary War soldier and politician from Virginia. He served in the Continental Army and later became a member of the Virginia House of Delegates.

In the 19th century, James Ross Snowden (1809-1878), an American numismatist and author, made significant contributions to the study of coins and medals. He served as the director of the United States Mint from 1853 to 1861.

Another notable figure was Ralph Snowden (1882-1925), an English professional footballer who played as a forward for several clubs, including Manchester City and Oldham Athletic, in the early 20th century.

Throughout history, the Snowden surname has been associated with various professions, including clergy, politicians, scholars, and athletes, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who bore this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Snowden

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

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

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

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