This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Sneddon family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Sneddon Family History

Sneddon Surname Meaning

Scottish: habitational name from the lands of Sneddon in Paisley (Renfrewshire) from Snawdon in Garvald and Barra (East Lothian) or perhaps from Snawdon near Thirlestane in Lauderdale (Berwickshire). Whichever placename is involved in the surname is ultimately from Old English snāw ‘snow’ + dūn ‘hill’ like the famous Snowdon in Wales.

Those in Scotland may be independent coinings and literal descriptions of hills on which snow tended to lie long but Snowdoun or Snawdoun also belong to a group of Arthurian names popular in Scotland in the later Middle Ages and may have been applied as such in the names mentioned and also in the case of the lost Snadown by St. Andrews (Fife).

Stirling was regarded as standing on the boundary of the ancient Scottish and British kingdoms with strong associations with King Arthur, making it possible for King David II to claim to the chronicler Jean Froissart in 1365 that Stirling Castle was the Snowdon of King Arthur.

It may be that the placename(s) supplying the surname allude to this potent mythology.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Sneddon family from?

You can see how Sneddon families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Sneddon family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Sneddon families were found in and Scotland in 1841. In 1891 there were 15 Sneddon families living in Lancashire. This was about 21% of all the recorded Sneddon's in United Kingdom. Lancashire and 1 other county had the highest population of Sneddon families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Sneddon surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Sneddon ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Sneddon. 20% of Sneddon men worked as a General Labourer and 87% of Sneddon women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Sneddon were Salesman and Private Means.

View Census Data for Sneddon | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    20%
  • Cowman
    15%
  • Iron Moulder H W
    10%
  • Salesman
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    87%
  • Unpaid Household Duties
    4%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Private Means
    3%

What Sneddon family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 30,000 census records available for the last name Sneddon. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Sneddon census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Sneddon

Passenger Lists

There are 7,000 immigration records available for the last name Sneddon. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Sneddon immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Sneddon. For the veterans among your Sneddon ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Sneddon military records

You've only scratched the surface of Sneddon family history

Discover More

What is the average Sneddon lifespan?

Between 1953 and 2004, in the United States, Sneddon life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1953, and highest in 1986. The average life expectancy for Sneddon in 1953 was 37, and 81 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Sneddon

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Sneddon ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Sneddon family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial