NameCensus.

UK surname

Sneath

A locational surname derived from a place name containing the Old English word "snæd" meaning a cleared area or piece of land.

In the 1881 census there were 515 people recorded with the Sneath surname, ranking it #6,619 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 486, ranked #10,189, down from #6,619 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Barrowby, London parishes and Uppingham, Beaumont Chase. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Holland, Oadby and Wigston and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sneath is 550 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 5.6%.

1881 census count

515

Ranked #6,619

Modern count

486

2016, ranked #10,189

Peak year

1911

550 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sneath had 515 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,619 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 486 in 2016, ranked #10,189.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 550 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Sneath surname distribution map

The map shows where the Sneath surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Sneath surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sneath over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 413 #5,872
1861 historical 383 #6,680
1881 historical 515 #6,619
1891 historical 465 #7,874
1901 historical 523 #7,790
1911 historical 550 #7,287
1997 modern 468 #9,769
1998 modern 489 #9,760
1999 modern 496 #9,713
2000 modern 487 #9,819
2001 modern 490 #9,619
2002 modern 508 #9,525
2003 modern 496 #9,540
2004 modern 494 #9,589
2005 modern 492 #9,553
2006 modern 469 #9,937
2007 modern 470 #10,012
2008 modern 480 #9,948
2009 modern 486 #10,069
2010 modern 500 #10,059
2011 modern 501 #9,938
2012 modern 488 #10,049
2013 modern 495 #10,093
2014 modern 502 #10,050
2015 modern 493 #10,100
2016 modern 486 #10,189

Geography

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Where Sneaths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Barrowby, London parishes, Uppingham, Beaumont Chase, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Holland, Oadby and Wigston, Cornwall, Pendle and Harborough. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Barrowby Lincolnshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Uppingham, Beaumont Chase Rutland
4 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Holland 005 South Holland
2 Oadby and Wigston 003 Oadby and Wigston
3 Cornwall 034 Cornwall
4 Pendle 002 Pendle
5 Harborough 007 Harborough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sneath

These lists show first names that appear often with the Sneath surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sneath

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Sneath, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Sneath surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Sneath household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Sneath is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sneath is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sneath falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sneath is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Sneath, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Sneath

The surname Sneath is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "snæd," which means a small piece or slice of land. This suggests that the name was likely given to someone who lived or worked on a small parcel of land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sneath can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Sneid." This historical document was commissioned by William the Conqueror to record the landholdings and properties across England and parts of Wales.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, variations of the name began to appear in various records and documents. Some of these variations include Sneyd, Sneyth, and Snayth. These variations often reflected regional dialects and the way the name was pronounced in different parts of the country.

In the 16th century, the surname Sneath started to take on its more modern spelling. One notable figure from this time was John Sneath, who was born in 1540 in Staffordshire, England. He was a prominent landowner and served as a member of the local gentry.

Another notable individual with the surname Sneath was William Sneath, born in 1620 in Warwickshire, England. He was a Puritan minister and played a significant role in the religious and political landscape of the time.

The 18th century saw the emergence of several notable individuals with the Sneath surname. One of them was Thomas Sneath, born in 1712 in Derbyshire, England. He was a respected architect and is known for designing several churches and public buildings in the region.

In the 19th century, the surname Sneath continued to be represented in various fields. One notable figure was John Sneath, born in 1826 in Yorkshire, England. He was a prominent industrialist and businessman who played a significant role in the development of the textile industry in the region.

Another individual of note was Elizabeth Sneath, born in 1845 in Staffordshire, England. She was a pioneering educator and campaigner for women's rights, advocating for equal opportunities in education and employment.

Throughout its history, the surname Sneath has been associated with various place names and locations in England. Some of these include Sneath Meadow in Derbyshire, Sneath Farm in Staffordshire, and Sneath Lane in Warwickshire. These place names often reflect the presence of families or individuals with the Sneath surname in those areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sneath families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sneath surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lincolnshire leads with 124 Sneaths recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.20x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 124 15.20x
Yorkshire 39 0.77x
Middlesex 37 0.73x
Rutland 34 90.76x
Warwickshire 34 2.64x
Surrey 33 1.33x
Derbyshire 24 3.00x
Nottinghamshire 23 3.34x
Northamptonshire 22 4.58x
Kent 14 0.80x
Norfolk 13 1.66x
Durham 12 0.79x
Essex 10 0.99x
Bedfordshire 9 3.41x
Staffordshire 9 0.52x
Buckinghamshire 8 2.59x
Hampshire 8 0.77x
Channel Islands 7 4.63x
Northumberland 6 0.79x
Worcestershire 6 0.90x
Argyllshire 5 3.52x
Denbighshire 5 2.59x
Huntingdonshire 5 4.94x
Leicestershire 5 0.88x
Cambridgeshire 4 1.24x
Dunbartonshire 4 2.92x
Hertfordshire 4 1.14x
Midlothian 4 0.59x
Gloucestershire 3 0.30x
Lanarkshire 3 0.18x
Lancashire 2 0.03x
Cardiganshire 1 0.80x
Cheshire 1 0.09x
East Lothian 1 1.48x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 1.35x
Perthshire 1 0.44x
Somerset 1 0.12x
Sussex 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clapham in Surrey leads with 19 Sneaths recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.79x.

Place Total Index
Clapham 19 29.79x
Hackney London 16 5.59x
Uppingham 15 335.57x
Birmingham 14 3.27x
Bradford 13 10.62x
Stamford Baron St Martin 12 466.93x
Toft Lound Manthorpe 12 2608.70x
Asgarby 10 2631.58x
Empingham 10 694.44x
Ripley 10 101.32x
St Pancras London 10 2.44x
Aston 9 2.54x
Barnoldswick 9 127.48x
Leamington Priors 9 28.43x
Stevington 9 825.69x
Snenton 8 29.61x
Southwark St George Martyr 8 7.79x
Bledlow 7 374.33x
Deptford St Paul 7 5.21x
Gateshead 7 6.16x
Graveney 7 1590.91x
Seaton 7 1250.00x
St Peter Port 7 25.03x
Thurlby Obthorpe 7 642.20x
Timberland 7 795.45x
Wilsford 7 583.33x
Chesterfield 6 20.04x
East Ham 6 32.10x
Elswick 6 9.90x
Langtoft 6 588.24x
Market Deeping 6 283.02x
Ryde 6 26.71x
Stamford St Michael 6 258.62x
Abergele 5 90.25x
Ardchattan Muckairn 5 142.45x
Barrowby 5 354.61x
Bourn 5 75.87x
Bromley London 5 4.45x
Caythorpe 5 318.47x
Colsterworth 5 289.02x
Great Grimsby 5 9.66x
Rotherham 5 17.54x
Seighford 5 364.96x
Sprowston 5 144.51x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 4 8.49x
Battersea 4 2.13x
Brampton 4 35.84x
Brant Broughton 4 336.13x
Conington 4 769.23x
Deeping St James 4 138.89x
Helmington Row 4 56.58x
Kings Norton 4 6.70x
New Kilpatrick 4 30.67x
Newark Upon Trent 4 16.18x
Peterborough 4 11.51x
Spittlegate 4 35.46x
St Mark Lincoln 4 229.89x
Stapleford 4 71.68x
Trowse Cum Newton 4 206.19x
West Ham 4 1.80x
Westminster St John 4 6.44x
Bowling 3 5.99x
Edinburgh Canongate 3 17.25x
Gosberton 3 82.87x
Manthorpe Cum Little 3 48.08x
Norwich St Stephen 3 41.67x
Nottingham St Mary 3 1.69x
Old Monkland 3 4.58x
Pinchbeck 3 57.36x
Wisbech St Peter 3 18.52x
Wortley In Bramley 3 7.49x
Aldershot 2 5.71x
Castle Church 2 19.32x
Chipping Barnet 2 32.52x
Derby St Werburgh 2 4.34x
Eastwood 2 32.52x
Great Amwell 2 56.66x
Harringworth 2 312.50x
Rowley Regis 2 4.17x
Shirland 2 33.50x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Sneath surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 34
Elizabeth 19
Sarah 19
Ann 14
Jane 13
Annie 12
Eliza 11
Ellen 10
Edith 8
Emily 6
Hannah 6
Martha 5
Alice 4
Anne 4
Fanny 4
Charlotte 3
Harriet 3
Kate 3
Lizzie 3
Louisa 3
Margaret 3
Susan 3
Amy 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Elizth. 2
Frances 2
Francess 2
Gertrude 2
Isabella 2
Jessie 2
Julia 2
Lena 2
Lucy 2
Mabel 2
Maria 2
Matilda 2
Phoebe 2
Rebecca 2
Rosa 2
Rose 2
Bertha 1
Elsie 1
Emmeline 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Florence 1
Lilly 1
Lily 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Sneath surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 37
William 27
Thomas 23
George 19
Charles 14
Henry 12
Robert 10
James 8
Arthur 7
Frederick 6
Edward 5
Ernest 4
Harry 4
Alfred 3
Edwin 3
Jno. 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Tom 3
Chas. 2
Christopher 2
Donald 2
Frank 2
Herbert 2
Joseph 2
Matthias 2
Archbald 1
Aurthur 1
Benjamin 1
Booth 1
Clement 1
Cornelius 1
Daun 1
Francis 1
Fred.Chas.Russia 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Geoe. 1
Guy 1
Jackson 1
Jonathan 1
Joshua 1
Oliver 1
Percy 1
R. 1
Richd. 1
Sidney 1
Thos. 1
Thos.D. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Sneath surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sneath surname in 1881?

In 1881, 515 people were recorded with the Sneath surname. That placed it at #6,619 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sneath surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 486 in 2016. That gives Sneath a modern rank of #10,189.

What does the Sneath surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name containing the Old English word "snæd" meaning a cleared area or piece of land.

What does the Sneath map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sneath bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.