Surname Snell - Meaning and Origin

Exploring Antique Europe: Tangible Insights into the Historical Journey of the Snell Surname from iGENEA DNA Test Results

Thrilling results from my iGENEA DNA test has unlocked the doors of my past revealing riveting aspects of my cultural heritage and the intriguing history of my surname, Snell. Tracing origins back to the old Europe, and specifically Anglo-Saxon England, the test provided a link between my lineage and ancient societies.

Y. Snell

Snell: What does the surname Snell mean?

The surname Snell is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from the Old English pre 7th century word "snel," which means quick or active. It was generally used as a nickname for someone who was swift in their movements or actions. Thus, the name Snell typically refers to a fast or quick individual. The name has variations in different languages such as Schnell in German and Snelle in Dutch, both carrying the same meaning of fast or quick. The first recorded spelling of the family name is believed to be that of Ailricus Snel in the 1086 Domesday Book for Hampshire. Over the centuries, the name has branched out into different forms due to regional and dialectal differences. Today, it is a fairly widespread surname, particularly in England and Scotland.

Snell: Where does the name Snell come from?

The last name Snell is most commonly found in the United Kingdom today. It is mainly a British surname, with its greatest concentration found in England, Scotland, and Wales. In England it is particularly prevalent in the Midlands region. It is also frequently found in Ireland, especially in the Ulster province.

Snell is an old English surname, derived from a personal name or nickname. It is believed to derive from the Old English word “snell”, which meant “swift” or “forceful”. Thus, this surname could refer to a swift runner, a brave warrior, or someone with an impressively strong personality.

This surname can still be found throughout the British Isles, but is relatively uncommon. According to Ancestry.com, the Snell surname is ranked at 6808 in the United Kingdom in terms of popularity. This rank puts Snell right around the middle in terms of common surnames in the UK.

Internationally, the surname can be found in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the United States. In the US, Snell is also of roughly medium popularity, ranking 6190 according to the US Census Bureau.

The surname Snell is thus most commonly found in the British Isles, as well as other countries of British descent, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. It can also be found in some other European countries with a large British populations.

Variations of the surname Snell

The Snell surname is an Anglo-Saxon name for a person of a daring or bold nature. This surname has been in existence for centuries and has been used as both a given name and a surname. The spelling and variants vary throughout time and dialects.

The most common spelling of ‘Snell’ is ‘Snell’. Other spellings of this surname include ‘Sneel’, ‘Snelle’, ‘Snells’, ‘Snelles’, ‘Snellars’, ‘Sneilla’, and ‘Sneillaw’.

There is a possibility that variations of the Snell surname were also used in Medieval England. Examples of variations could have been ‘Snale’, ‘Smale’, ‘Snaille’, ‘Snayle’, and ‘Smell’.

The surname Snell could also have been altered in some parts of England due to the dialects and accents of those speaking the language. For example, a particular dialect might use the phrase ‘as smal as a snell’, inadvertently creating a possible variant of the surname Snell, such as ‘Smeal’.

The surnames ‘Snill’ and ‘Smill’ are believed to be derived from the same root as Snell, though the exact relation is unconfirmed.

This surname has also been used as a given name, such as ‘Snelling’. While this name is not as common as the surname, there are records of individuals named Snell, snelling and Snelling in the past.

In Anglo-Saxon culture, people often assumed family surnames from their father’s first name. As a result, it is also possible that people with the surnames ‘Snellson’, ‘Snelson’, and ‘Snanelson’ also share the same origin as the surname Snell.

Overall, the Snell surname has had a great variation of spellings, surnames and variants over the centuries, due to various spellings and dialects.

Famous people with the name Snell

• Willie Snell: NFL safety for the New York Giants
• Murray Snell: Canadian composer and music professor
• Willie G. Snell: NFL offensive tackle for the Houston Oilers
• Terry Snell: MLB pitcher for the Atlanta Braves
• Bob Snell: American basketball player
• Tom Snell: English poet
• Henry Snell: English organist and composer
• Scottie Snell: American football linebacker for the San Diego Chargers
• Richard Snell: American Olympian in the bobsledding events
• Spike Snell: English actor, director and writer
• André Snell: Dutch weightlifter, silver medalist at the 1950 European Championships
• Momotaro Snell: Japanese professional wrestler
• Kay Snell: American actress
• Dann Snell: Australian former rugby union player
• slain teen Snell: American football player
• Matias Snellman: Finnish rock guitarist
• Bob Snell: American NASCAR driver
• Charles Snell: American professional road racing cyclist
• Josiah Snell: English professional cricketer
• Robert Snell: Author and journalist

Other surnames

SnellingSnelserSnelsonSnelsor