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

Snyder, 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 Snyder surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Snyder in America

Snyder is the 165th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Snyder surname appeared 160,262 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 54 people would have the surname Snyder.

We can also compare 2010 data for Snyder 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 Snyder

The surname Snyder has its origins in the German language, and it can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German word "Schneider," which means "tailor" or "cutter." The name first emerged in regions of Germany and the Low Countries where textile production and tailoring were common occupations.

In the 14th and 15th centuries, the surname Snyder began to appear in various records and documents across Germany and the Netherlands. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Liber Censualis, a manuscript from the city of Cologne, Germany, which dates back to 1368 and mentions a certain "Johannes Snyder."

As the name was occupational in origin, many early bearers of the surname were likely tailors or cloth workers. However, over time, the name became hereditary and passed down through generations, even as family members pursued different professions.

One notable historical figure with the surname Snyder was Pieter Jansz Snyder, a Dutch painter who lived from around 1555 to 1597. His works, which included still lifes and portraits, are now part of the collections of several museums in the Netherlands.

Another individual of note was Johann Snyder, a German composer and organist who lived from 1625 to 1676. He was employed as the organist at the St. Thomas Church in Leipzig and is known for his contributions to the development of the German organ tradition.

In the 18th century, a man named Johann Michael Snyder (1719-1790) gained recognition as a prominent German clockmaker. His intricate and highly accurate timepieces were sought after by many wealthy patrons of the era.

As the Snyder surname spread throughout Europe and beyond, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Schneider, Snider, and Shnyder, depending on the regional dialects and languages.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Snyder surname in the United States can be traced back to a German immigrant named Hans Snyder, who arrived in Pennsylvania in the early 1700s. His descendants went on to become prominent figures in various fields, including politics, agriculture, and business.

Throughout history, the Snyder surname has been borne by many notable individuals across different professions and walks of life. While the name may have originated as an occupational descriptor, it has since become a lasting legacy, carrying the rich cultural heritage of its German and Dutch roots.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Snyder

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

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

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

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