NameCensus.

UK surname

Snelgrove

A rare English occupational surname denoting someone from the "Snell Grove" or swift stream.

In the 1881 census there were 744 people recorded with the Snelgrove surname, ranking it #4,932 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 656, ranked #8,116, down from #4,932 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Southampton St Mary and Bedwelty. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mendip, Sedgemoor and Wealden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Snelgrove is 873 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 11.8%.

1881 census count

744

Ranked #4,932

Modern count

656

2016, ranked #8,116

Peak year

1911

873 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Snelgrove had 744 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,932 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 656 in 2016, ranked #8,116.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 873 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Snelgrove surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Snelgrove surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Snelgrove 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 511 #4,895
1861 historical 347 #7,357
1881 historical 744 #4,932
1891 historical 704 #5,575
1901 historical 844 #5,394
1911 historical 873 #5,094
1997 modern 722 #7,068
1998 modern 721 #7,307
1999 modern 734 #7,263
2000 modern 722 #7,330
2001 modern 719 #7,214
2002 modern 734 #7,228
2003 modern 691 #7,457
2004 modern 693 #7,463
2005 modern 666 #7,643
2006 modern 663 #7,700
2007 modern 655 #7,815
2008 modern 657 #7,851
2009 modern 690 #7,729
2010 modern 677 #7,983
2011 modern 692 #7,748
2012 modern 675 #7,838
2013 modern 681 #7,908
2014 modern 667 #8,088
2015 modern 654 #8,154
2016 modern 656 #8,116

Geography

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Where Snelgroves are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Southampton St Mary, Bedwelty and Warminster, Upton Scudamore, Great and Little Corsley, Norton Bavant. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mendip, Sedgemoor, Wealden and Lochaber West. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
3 Bedwelty Monmouthshire
4 Warminster, Upton Scudamore, Great and Little Corsley, Norton Bavant Wiltshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mendip 007 Mendip
2 Sedgemoor 001 Sedgemoor
3 Mendip 003 Mendip
4 Wealden 009 Wealden
5 Lochaber West Highland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Snelgrove

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Snelgrove

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Snelgrove, 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 Snelgrove surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Snelgrove 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Snelgrove is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Snelgrove is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

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

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Snelgrove falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Snelgrove 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 Snelgrove, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Snelgrove

The surname Snelgrove originates from England, with roots dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, referring to someone who lived near a fast-flowing stream or grove of trees. The name is derived from the Old English words "snel," meaning swift or rapid, and "grofe," meaning a small wood or grove.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Snelgrave." This entry refers to a settlement in Buckinghamshire, possibly the original place from which the surname derived its name. The name was also found in various other medieval records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Hertfordshire from 1195, where it was spelled "Snelgrave."

Notable individuals with the surname Snelgrove include Sir John Snelgrove (1556-1628), an English merchant and Member of Parliament for London in the early 17th century. Another prominent figure was William Snelgrove (1666-1743), a well-known printer and bookseller in London who published works by notable authors of his time.

In the 18th century, the name appeared in the form of "Snellgrove" in the parish records of St. Giles-in-the-Fields, London, where several families with this spelling were recorded. One such individual was Thomas Snellgrove (1734-1801), a successful businessman and landowner in Middlesex.

Moving into the 19th century, we find Henry Snelgrove (1802-1876), a notable English engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of steam engines and railway technology. Another individual of note was Harriet Snelgrove (1847-1923), a prominent campaigner for women's rights and suffrage in England.

Throughout its history, the surname Snelgrove has maintained its connection to its Anglo-Saxon roots, with various spellings emerging over time. The name's association with place names and swift-flowing streams has persisted, serving as a reminder of its locational origins and the linguistic heritage of the English language.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Snelgrove families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Snelgrove 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. Wiltshire leads with 264 Snelgroves recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.13x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 264 41.13x
Hampshire 153 10.29x
Middlesex 84 1.16x
Somerset 66 5.65x
Surrey 29 0.82x
Lancashire 28 0.33x
Devon 20 1.32x
Kent 17 0.69x
Glamorgan 13 1.03x
Monmouthshire 11 2.10x
Durham 8 0.37x
Hertfordshire 8 1.60x
Gloucestershire 7 0.49x
Oxfordshire 7 1.56x
Sussex 7 0.57x
Herefordshire 6 2.02x
Essex 4 0.28x
Staffordshire 4 0.16x
Berkshire 3 0.55x
Warwickshire 3 0.16x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.22x
Suffolk 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Downton in Wiltshire leads with 30 Snelgroves recorded in 1881 and an index of 357.14x.

Place Total Index
Downton 30 357.14x
Southampton St Mary 30 32.07x
Bishopstoke 26 680.63x
Corsley 26 1027.67x
Sutton Veney 25 1388.89x
Heytesbury 24 1025.64x
Norton Bavant 24 3636.36x
Warminster 22 156.47x
Shoreditch London 17 5.40x
Westbury 16 106.81x
Frome 12 42.95x
Shepton Mallet 12 91.53x
South Stoneham 12 37.19x
Kirkdale 11 7.59x
Aberystruth 10 21.62x
Bishopstrow 10 1639.34x
Hammersmith London 10 5.59x
Romsey Extra 10 112.99x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 10 106.27x
Bromley 9 23.85x
Chirton 9 1071.43x
Exeter St Sidwell 8 23.12x
Newington 8 2.98x
Tormoham 8 12.52x
West Wellow 8 559.44x
Westoe 8 6.54x
Bethnal Green London 7 2.22x
Bucknell 7 1060.61x
Froxfield 7 406.98x
Godstone 7 110.58x
Market Lavington 7 201.73x
Northwood 7 33.05x
Portsea 7 2.40x
Southampton All Sts 7 27.43x
Stoke Newington London 7 12.38x
West Ashton 7 921.05x
Basingstoke 6 35.07x
Chilworth 6 1071.43x
Holdenhurst 6 15.38x
Lonbridge Deverill 6 266.67x
Midsomer Norton 6 54.50x
Nortonwith 6 408.16x
South Charford 6 2857.14x
West Cholderton 6 1463.41x
Westminster St James 6 8.04x
Ystradyfodwg 6 5.41x
Chipping Barnet 5 57.14x
Fawley 5 105.93x
Hackney London 5 1.23x
Minster In Sheppey 5 12.19x
Newhaven 5 50.30x
Nunney 5 197.63x
Nunton With Bodenham 5 675.68x
St Andrew Holborn 5 20.33x
St Marylebone London 5 1.29x
Trowbridge 5 17.62x
Walcot 5 8.04x
Wells St Cuthbert 5 62.74x
Wylye 5 409.84x
Aberdare 4 4.61x
Bradford On Avon 4 19.46x
Bristol St George 4 6.08x
Burslem 4 5.70x
Clapham 4 4.41x
St Bartholomew Great 4 60.61x
Upton Scudamore 4 512.82x
Westminster St John 4 4.53x
Camberwell 3 0.65x
Cardiff St Mary 3 4.31x
Hilperton 3 147.06x
Ludgershall 3 243.90x
Millbrook 3 8.01x
Orell Ford 3 189.87x
Salford 3 1.18x
St Martin In Fields 3 6.90x
Swindon 3 6.03x
Toxteth Park 3 1.03x
Walton On Hill 3 6.43x
West Ham 3 0.95x
Yeovil 3 12.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 37
Sarah 24
Elizabeth 23
Eliza 17
Emily 14
Annie 13
Jane 13
Ann 11
Ellen 10
Emma 10
Fanny 9
Alice 8
Caroline 8
Maria 8
Charlotte 7
Hannah 7
Louisa 7
Martha 7
Rosa 6
Susan 6
Agnes 4
Amy 4
Anna 4
Bessie 4
Ethel 4
Florence 4
Kate 4
Lucy 4
Rose 4
Ada 3
Anne 3
Elizth. 3
Frances 3
Harriett 3
Lydia 3
Marey 3
Amelia 2
Catherine 2
Esther 2
Euphemia 2
Gertrude 2
Infant 2
Julia 2
Laura 2
Margaret 2
Matilda 2
Maud 2
Nellie 2
Ella 1
Winniford 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 48
John 39
George 31
Henry 24
Charles 20
James 18
Thomas 12
Albert 10
Edward 10
Frank 10
Robert 9
Frederick 8
Alfred 6
Richard 6
Edwin 5
Herbert 5
Stephen 5
Walter 5
Arthur 4
David 4
Harry 4
Joseph 4
Wm. 4
Chas. 3
Ernest 3
Josiah 3
Lewis 3
Daniel 2
Fred 2
Isaac 2
Oliver 2
Samuel 2
Austin 1
C. 1
Clifford 1
Edgar 1
Edmond 1
Ezra 1
F.George 1
F.John 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Frederic 1
Geo.H. 1
J. 1
Jas 1
Leofrica 1
Lewes 1
Lionel 1
Louis 1

FAQ

Snelgrove surname: questions and answers

How common was the Snelgrove surname in 1881?

In 1881, 744 people were recorded with the Snelgrove surname. That placed it at #4,932 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Snelgrove surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 656 in 2016. That gives Snelgrove a modern rank of #8,116.

What does the Snelgrove surname mean?

A rare English occupational surname denoting someone from the "Snell Grove" or swift stream.

What does the Snelgrove map show?

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