Surname Snelling - Meaning and Origin
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Snelling: What does the surname Snelling mean?
The last name Snelling is of English origin and is derived from the Old English word "sneling," which means "a quick-moving stream or brook." It is thought to have been given to those living near such a stream or brook.
The spelling of the name has evolved over the centuries, with variants including Snelung, Sneling, Snelling (emanating from England and Northern Ireland), Sneiling (emanating from Northern Ireland and Scotland) and Snellinge (emanating from Germany).
The first recorded spelling of the family name was in 1150 as "Snielyng," in the "Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire," England. This variation gives us cause to believe that some members of the Snelling family were of noble status and had special privileges, such as hunting rights on their estate.
The Snelling family has a long and illustrious history, with its members tracing their roots back to ancient times. Early members of the family were prominent in both local and national affairs, opening up Snelling pubs, inns, and coaching lines that transported guests from one destination to another. The Snelling family was also known for its involvement in various industries, such as shipping, textile processing, tanning, and brewing.
Today, the Snelling surname is spread all over the world, along with variations in spelling. Despite the changes, many people of this surname remain committed to their shared history and continue to honor their ancestors by proudly displaying their name.
Order DNA origin analysisSnelling: Where does the name Snelling come from?
The last name Snelling is an English and German name, derived from the medieval term “snel” meaning “quick” or “alert.” The earliest record of this name date back to 1174, when a variation was recorded in the Magna Carta.
Today, Snelling is most common in the United Kingdom, with the highest concentration in England, as of 2018 UK Census Data. It is also fairly common in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. In the United States, the states with the highest concentration of Snellings are California, Texas, Colorado, and Georgia.
Snelling is commonly an occupational surname as many of the Snellings in the 1500s and 1600s were tailors. It is also sometimes thought to come from the Old Norse word for “battle” and could have been a name given to a warrior.
In addition to the English and German variations, there are also Dutch, Chinese, and African American versions of the name. The variety of languages from which the name is derived suggests it has been used for generations in many parts of the world.
Today, Snelling is most common in Western Europe, North America, and Oceania, but is still found in various other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Snelling
The surname Snelling is derived from the Old English word Sneldon which means ‘valley by the cliff’. Snelling has been spelt variously over the centuries from Snellinge, Snellin, Snellan and Snelland. Variants include Snelling, Snellin, Snellen, Snellan, Snelland, Sneling, Snelin, Snellan, Sneland, Snillin, and Snealing.
In Ireland, a variant of the name is Snellin. In Scotland the variant is Snellin or Snellan. After the 17th century, the usage of the name worldwide became more standardised and the spelling of Snelling was used for the majority of the variant names.
There are also a number of surnames that are derived from the original Snelling name. These include: Snelling-Hatchett, Snelling-Boulton, Snelling-Carroll, Snelling-Hughes, Snelling-Walker, Snelling-Gregory, Snelling-Harrold and Snelling-Smith.
Surnames derived from the Snelling name can be found in English, Irish, Welsh and Scottish records. Snelling is also an uncommon given name and has been used occasionally as a first name in recent years.
It is likely that some of the other surnames with the same origin as Snelling have been lost and absorbed into multiple families. With its many spellings, variants and surnames, tracing the origins of the Snelling name can be a challenging task.
Famous people with the name Snelling
- Julie Snelling: Professional hockey player in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League.
- Rylan Snelling: English professional race car driver.
- Augustus Snelling: United States Army officer and the sixth commander of the United States Army in the West.
- Clifford Snelling: Australian professional soccer coach.
- Christine Snelling: Professional American basketball player in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).
- Charles Snelling: American actor and comedian.
- Tyler Snelling: NFL player who was drafted in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft.
- Steve Snelling: Former English professional footballer.
- Alan Snelling: Canadian professional basketball player.
- Chris Snelling: Professional Australian baseball player.
- Lorraine Snelling: Children's author and artist.
- Mary Anne Snelling: English master weaver and designer.
- Roger Snelling: Children's author and illustrator.
- John Snelling: English musician, songwriter, and producer.
- Peter Snelling: British classicist, academic and author.
- Alf Snelling: British actor and television presenter.
- Laurie Snelling: American author of Christian fiction and non-fiction.
- Leslie Snelling: Author, lecturer, and social worker.
- Adrian Snelling: English composer and performer on the classical guitar.
- David Snelling: British sculptor and teacher.