Surname Snavely - Meaning and Origin
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Snavely: What does the surname Snavely mean?
The last name Snavely is of English origin and is derived from the Old English word “snæfel” meaning “courage” or “valour”. It is believed that the name was first used as a given name before gradually evolving into a family surname.
The Snavely family name has many variations, including Snawell, Snewell, Snavelly, Snevell, Snael, Snell, and Snasel. It was used in the Middle Ages by valiant knights in recognition of their courage and bravery in battle.
The earliest record of the Snavely name appears in American records from Virginia in 1638, where Henry Snavely was one of the earliest colonists. At this time, most of the Snavely family sources were in Pennsylvania and Maryland.
Today, the Snavely name is more commonly spread throughout the United States as an indicator of courage and bravery. Although every Snavely family is unique, their name carries with it a sense of history rooted in courage and valour. It is a name that speaks of generations of strong and courageous men and women who could bravely take on whatever task life had for them and prevail.
Order DNA origin analysisSnavely: Where does the name Snavely come from?
The last name Snavely is a relatively uncommon last name. It is not found in the top 1000 last names in the United States; however, individuals with this last name can be found in various parts of the world today.
In Canada, the last name Snavely is more popular. In 2011, there were over 1,000 individuals living in the country with the last name Snavely, making it the 1,545th most common surname in the country. In the United States, the last name Snavely is found mostly in Pennsylvania and Virginia. Pennsylvania had 585 people with the last name Snavely, making it the 1,866th most common last name in the state. In Virginia there were 203 people with the last name Snavely, making it the 4,282nd most common last name in the state.
The name Snavely is also found in South Africa, where it is the 7,011th most common last name in the country. In the United Kingdom, the last name Snavely is found in small pockets throughout England, Scotland, and Wales.
Overall, the last name Snavely is found in small numbers around the world, but clusters are located in Pennsylvania and Virginia in the United States, and in Canada and South Africa.
Variations of the surname Snavely
The variants, spellings and surnames for the same origin of the surname Snavely include:
Snavely
Snaveley
Snavelye
Snevely
Snavelygh
Snavelyegh
Snaveleygh
These different spellings of the same surname indicate that the surname could have come from many different places and times, often from variations of regional dialects. The origins of the surname are not clear but most likely derive from a northern or eastern European country, either from England or Scotland.
Snavely appears to be most closely related to the German surname Schnevele. It is believed that this variation of the name was acquired by English immigrants in the early 1600s. The German origin of the surname means "valley" and is derived from the Middle English "snevyl," which is a diminutive form of "snave," meaning "stream or small river."
The name potentially also has its origins in Middle English, with the original spelling being "Snavel" or "Snăvel." This spelling is found in place names such as Snaveleye and Snaveleygh, indicating a connection with the area of Hereford and Shropshire.
The surname can also be found in Scottish records as Slay or Slet, which are variations of Snaveley. These were derived from the Ulster-Scots surname Slaight, which was particularly common around North Uist in the Outer Hebrides.
All of these different variants, spellings, and surnames of Snavely are connected to a single shared origin. Despite the various spellings, most of them are derived from Middle English and German, with the surname initially meaning "valley" or "stream."
Famous people with the name Snavely
- Paxton Snavely: an American country music singer, songwriter, and guitarist.
- Bruce Snavely: an American singer and songwriter.
- Wilbur Snavely: an American businessman and technology executive from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- Frank Snavely: an American soldier during World War II who served in the United States Army Air Forces, in the 369th Fighter Squadron, officially known as the Tuskegee Airmen.
- James E. Snavely: a United States Navy Vice Admiral who served as Director of Navy Staff from July 7, 1978 to August 2, 1981.
- Thomas Snavely: a soldier in the American Revolutionary War.
- Nora Snavely: an American stage and film actress and musician.
- Robert Snavely: a Canadian physician and politician.
- Harrison Snavely: the National Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States from 1913 to 1914.
- Annie Snavely: an American movie actress of the silent era.