NameCensus.

UK surname

Snedden

A habitational surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone from Snedden or a similar location.

In the 1881 census there were 406 people recorded with the Snedden surname, ranking it #7,880 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 653, ranked #8,152, down from #7,880 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, Borrowstounness and Carriden and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blackness, Bo'ness - Carriden and Grahamsdyke, Bo'ness - Douglas and Bo'ness - Newtown.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Snedden is 672 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 60.8%.

1881 census count

406

Ranked #7,880

Modern count

653

2016, ranked #8,152

Peak year

2000

672 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Snedden had 406 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,880 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 653 in 2016, ranked #8,152.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 447 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Snedden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Snedden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Snedden 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 216 #9,818
1861 historical 313 #8,103
1881 historical 406 #7,880
1891 historical 346 #9,920
1901 historical 447 #8,746
1911 historical 46 #28,224
1997 modern 608 #8,068
1998 modern 642 #7,975
1999 modern 649 #7,950
2000 modern 672 #7,730
2001 modern 644 #7,852
2002 modern 666 #7,805
2003 modern 639 #7,921
2004 modern 616 #8,192
2005 modern 620 #8,064
2006 modern 609 #8,193
2007 modern 619 #8,161
2008 modern 629 #8,112
2009 modern 654 #8,030
2010 modern 650 #8,242
2011 modern 641 #8,241
2012 modern 616 #8,423
2013 modern 631 #8,407
2014 modern 646 #8,299
2015 modern 652 #8,177
2016 modern 653 #8,152

Geography

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Where Sneddens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Monkland, Borrowstounness and Carriden, Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Bathgate. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blackness, Bo'ness - Carriden and Grahamsdyke, Bo'ness - Douglas, Bo'ness - Newtown, Bo'ness - Kinneil and Bonnybridge. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 New Monkland Lanark
2 Borrowstounness and Carriden Linlithgow
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Bathgate Linlithgow

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blackness, Bo'ness - Carriden and Grahamsdyke Falkirk
2 Bo'ness - Douglas Falkirk
3 Bo'ness - Newtown Falkirk
4 Bo'ness - Kinneil Falkirk
5 Bonnybridge Falkirk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Snedden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Snedden

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Snedden, 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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Snedden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Snedden household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Snedden is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Snedden 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

Snedden falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Snedden is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Snedden

The surname Snedden originated in Scotland, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "snædden," which means "a strip of land" or "a meadow." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near or owned a meadow or a strip of land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Snedden can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document that contains the names of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "Snedyn" in these rolls, indicating that variations in spelling were common during that time.

In the 16th century, the Snedden family was well-established in the Scottish Borders region, particularly in the areas of Roxburghshire and Berwickshire. Some notable individuals from this period include Robert Snedden, who was born in 1522 and served as a magistrate in the town of Jedburgh.

The name Snedden has also been associated with several place names in Scotland. For example, there is a village called Sneddons Law in East Lothian, which may have derived its name from the surname. Additionally, the surname is believed to be related to the place name "Sneddon," found in several locations across Scotland.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Snedden. One of the most famous was Sir John Snedden (1679-1745), a Scottish merchant and politician who served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1737 to 1739. Another notable figure was Robert Snedden (1811-1892), a Scottish-born Australian politician who played a significant role in the early development of the colony of New South Wales.

Other individuals of note include:

1. David Snedden (1868-1935), a New Zealand educationist and philosopher. 2. Billy Snedden (1926-1987), an Australian politician who served as the leader of the Liberal Party from 1972 to 1975. 3. Ian Snedden (born 1944), a Scottish former professional footballer who played for several clubs, including Aberdeen and Dundee United. 4. James Snedden (1763-1835), a Scottish-born farmer and pioneer who was one of the first settlers in the Huron County area of Ontario, Canada.

The surname Snedden has a rich history that can be traced back to Scotland, with its origins linked to the Old English word for a meadow or a strip of land. Over the centuries, individuals with this surname have made significant contributions in various fields, including politics, education, sports, and exploration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Snedden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Snedden 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. West Lothian leads with 155 Sneddens recorded in 1881 and an index of 261.16x.

County Total Index
West Lothian 155 261.16x
Midlothian 67 12.69x
Lanarkshire 59 4.63x
Stirlingshire 32 22.02x
Ayrshire 21 7.12x
Northumberland 19 3.24x
Renfrewshire 14 4.58x
Hampshire 6 0.74x
Lancashire 6 0.13x
Cheshire 5 0.57x
Clackmannanshire 5 15.36x
Dumfriesshire 3 3.45x
Dunbartonshire 3 2.83x
Kirkcudbrightshire 3 5.26x
Staffordshire 3 0.23x
Perthshire 2 1.13x
Selkirkshire 1 2.81x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Boness in West Lothian leads with 148 Sneddens recorded in 1881 and an index of 1809.29x.

Place Total Index
Boness 148 1809.29x
West Calder 32 307.40x
Longbenton 19 76.49x
Slamannan 17 213.57x
Govan 15 4.76x
New Monkland 15 39.82x
Cockpen 14 226.90x
Old Monkland 14 27.68x
Abbey 9 19.31x
Dalkeith 8 76.78x
Muiravonside 7 189.70x
Alva 6 86.58x
Carriden 6 223.05x
Currie 6 185.76x
Dreghorn 6 112.36x
Kilwinning 6 63.03x
Portsea 6 3.79x
West Derby 6 4.39x
Birkenhead 5 7.21x
Cambusnethan 5 17.66x
Cathcart 5 30.27x
Gorbals 5 66.05x
Tillicoultry 5 69.06x
Glasgow 4 1.77x
Newton On Ayr 4 45.30x
Crossmichael 3 166.67x
Edinburgh Old Church 3 70.75x
Kirkintilloch 3 20.85x
Torthorwald 3 223.88x
Walsall Foreign 3 4.37x
Edinburgh Canongate 2 14.88x
Kilbirnie 2 28.25x
Ballantrae 1 51.28x
Bathgate 1 7.76x
Blairgowrie 1 14.29x
Bothkennar 1 23.04x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.47x
Falkirk 1 2.94x
Glassford 1 51.02x
Logie 1 15.75x
Melrose 1 11.15x
Newbattle 1 22.17x
Old Cumnock 1 15.22x
Straiton 1 59.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Agnes 2
Clementina 2
Mary 2
Bertha 1
Charlotte 1
Christina 1
Elizabeth 1
Hellen 1
Janet 1
Jinet 1
Margaret 1
Margt.J. 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
David 4
George 3
Walter 3
William 3
Harry 2
John 2
Andrew 1
Arch. 1
James 1
Leonard 1
Robert 1
Wm.H. 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Snedden households.

FAQ

Snedden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Snedden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 406 people were recorded with the Snedden surname. That placed it at #7,880 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Snedden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 653 in 2016. That gives Snedden a modern rank of #8,152.

What does the Snedden surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone from Snedden or a similar location.

What does the Snedden map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Snedden 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.