NameCensus.

UK surname

Snowden

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "snow-covered hill."

In the 1881 census there were 2,661 people recorded with the Snowden surname, ranking it #1,666 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,371, ranked #2,012, down from #1,666 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, London parishes and Leeds. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford, East Lindsey and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Snowden is 4,248 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.7%.

1881 census count

2,661

Ranked #1,666

Modern count

3,371

2016, ranked #2,012

Peak year

1911

4,248 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Snowden had 2,661 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,666 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,371 in 2016, ranked #2,012.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,248 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Snowden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Snowden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Snowden 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 1,810 #1,590
1861 historical 1,801 #1,609
1881 historical 2,661 #1,666
1891 historical 3,059 #1,537
1901 historical 3,503 #1,593
1911 historical 4,248 #1,224
1997 modern 3,472 #1,866
1998 modern 3,612 #1,874
1999 modern 3,658 #1,860
2000 modern 3,607 #1,882
2001 modern 3,509 #1,884
2002 modern 3,578 #1,896
2003 modern 3,483 #1,904
2004 modern 3,496 #1,896
2005 modern 3,404 #1,909
2006 modern 3,438 #1,895
2007 modern 3,428 #1,911
2008 modern 3,448 #1,924
2009 modern 3,484 #1,954
2010 modern 3,482 #2,004
2011 modern 3,456 #1,992
2012 modern 3,350 #2,015
2013 modern 3,434 #1,996
2014 modern 3,435 #2,014
2015 modern 3,393 #2,014
2016 modern 3,371 #2,012

Geography

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Where Snowdens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, London parishes, Leeds, Kildwick and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bradford, East Lindsey and Leeds. 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 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
2 London parishes London 3
3 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Kildwick Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bradford 023 Bradford
2 East Lindsey 004 East Lindsey
3 Bradford 009 Bradford
4 Leeds 102 Leeds
5 Bradford 004 Bradford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Snowden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Snowden

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Snowden 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

Snowden is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Snowden 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 Snowden 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 Snowden, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Snowden

The surname Snowden is an English locational name derived from the place name Snawedun, recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as a manor in Yorkshire. The name is believed to have originated from the Old English words "snaw" meaning snow and "dun" meaning hill or down, referring to a snow-covered hill or a hill where snow often fell.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname can be traced back to the 13th century, with a record of Thomas de Snawedun in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1219. Over time, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Snowdon, Snawdon, and Snawdun, before settling on the modern form of Snowden.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname was William Snowden, a 16th-century English clergyman who served as the rector of St. Sepulchre's Church in Holborn, London, from 1521 to 1549.

In the 17th century, the Snowden family gained prominence in the American colonies. Richard Snowden (1610-1670), an English-born landowner and merchant, settled in Maryland and became a member of the colonial council. His descendants, including Samuel Snowden (1681-1748) and Randolph Snowden (1718-1790), played influential roles in the colonial government and society.

The 18th century saw the birth of Randolph Snowden (1750-1825), an American Revolutionary War soldier and politician from Virginia. He served in the Continental Army and later became a member of the Virginia House of Delegates.

In the 19th century, James Ross Snowden (1809-1878), an American numismatist and author, made significant contributions to the study of coins and medals. He served as the director of the United States Mint from 1853 to 1861.

Another notable figure was Ralph Snowden (1882-1925), an English professional footballer who played as a forward for several clubs, including Manchester City and Oldham Athletic, in the early 20th century.

Throughout history, the Snowden surname has been associated with various professions, including clergy, politicians, scholars, and athletes, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who bore this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Snowden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Snowden 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. Yorkshire leads with 1,203 Snowdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.67x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,203 4.67x
Lancashire 256 0.83x
Lincolnshire 199 4.78x
Middlesex 177 0.68x
Durham 123 1.59x
Nottinghamshire 107 3.05x
Suffolk 87 2.75x
Cumberland 57 2.54x
Devon 52 0.96x
Kent 52 0.59x
Leicestershire 51 1.77x
Surrey 45 0.36x
Northumberland 44 1.14x
Selkirkshire 24 10.20x
Sussex 19 0.43x
Staffordshire 18 0.21x
Derbyshire 16 0.39x
Hampshire 15 0.28x
Dumfriesshire 14 2.44x
Glamorgan 13 0.29x
Cornwall 12 0.41x
Cheshire 11 0.19x
Norfolk 9 0.23x
Northamptonshire 9 0.37x
Monmouthshire 7 0.37x
Essex 6 0.12x
Gloucestershire 6 0.12x
Dorset 5 0.29x
Berkshire 4 0.20x
Midlothian 4 0.11x
Flintshire 3 0.43x
Hertfordshire 3 0.17x
Huntingdonshire 2 0.39x
Isle of Man 2 0.41x
Royal Navy 2 0.65x
Somerset 2 0.05x
Westmorland 2 0.35x
Bedfordshire 1 0.07x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.27x
Lanarkshire 1 0.01x
Perthshire 1 0.09x
Warwickshire 1 0.02x
Wiltshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cowling in Yorkshire leads with 152 Snowdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 909.09x.

Place Total Index
Cowling 152 909.09x
Leeds 69 4.74x
Holy Trinity 57 9.19x
Habergham Eaves 50 17.72x
Bingley 38 23.15x
Drighlington 37 98.54x
Horton In Bradford 36 8.94x
Ripon 35 58.52x
Keighley 31 11.28x
Sculcoates 31 7.58x
Scarborough 29 12.38x
St Pancras London 28 1.34x
Padiham 25 33.52x
Wortley In Bramley 25 12.24x
Brightside Bierlow 24 4.75x
Great Little Marsden 24 16.97x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 22 23.50x
Kensington London 21 1.45x
Louth 21 22.03x
Huddersfield 20 5.33x
Leicester St Margaret 20 2.84x
Manchester 20 1.44x
Nottingham St Mary 20 2.21x
Hackney London 19 1.30x
Ovenden 19 16.56x
Haxey 18 101.93x
Hunslet 18 4.48x
Malborough 18 83.64x
Bowling 17 6.66x
Doncaster 17 9.03x
Hurworth 17 125.46x
Bexley 16 20.39x
Ordsall 16 59.59x
Sheffield 16 1.95x
Melrose 15 25.32x
Stockton On Tees 15 4.02x
Thurlestone 15 462.96x
Caldewgate 14 11.41x
Capel St Andrew 14 786.52x
East Ardsley 14 62.70x
Gateshead 14 2.42x
Hammersmith London 14 2.18x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 14 15.20x
Preston 14 1.70x
Wakefield 14 7.07x
Eston 13 23.15x
Hartlepool 13 11.82x
Calcethorpe 12 930.23x
Camberwell 12 0.72x
Clee With Weelsby 12 13.18x
Lambeth 12 0.53x
Sutton 12 237.62x
Batley 11 4.49x
Bradford 11 1.76x
Chelsea London 11 1.40x
Clarborough 11 41.94x
Fulletby 11 480.35x
Haxby 11 220.44x
Manningham 11 3.46x
St Marylebone London 11 0.79x
Wigston Magna 11 28.75x
Castleton 10 3.24x
Cowpe Lench Newhall Hey 10 30.31x
Gildersome 10 32.27x
Langholm 10 24.21x
Newchurch 10 3.96x
Nottingham St Nicholas 10 20.94x
Skipton 10 12.33x
Tottenham 10 2.41x
Yarborough 10 413.22x
Brighton 9 1.02x
Everton 9 0.91x
Glusburn 9 61.81x
Great Grimsby 9 3.41x
Haworth 9 14.69x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 9 2.68x
Huggate 9 183.67x
Kirkleatham 9 25.85x
Llangeinor 9 33.75x
Selkirk 9 13.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 183
Sarah 99
Elizabeth 97
Jane 63
Ann 55
Annie 48
Alice 43
Eliza 41
Ellen 35
Hannah 35
Martha 33
Harriet 25
Margaret 25
Emma 23
Emily 21
Isabella 17
Florence 16
Ada 14
Anne 12
Clara 12
Fanny 12
Kate 12
Maria 12
Edith 11
Louisa 11
Charlotte 10
Agnes 9
Rose 9
Caroline 8
Catherine 7
Elizth. 7
Lilly 7
Lucy 7
Susannah 7
Amelia 6
Betty 6
Ethel 6
Frances 6
Rebecca 6
Susan 6
Amy 5
Blanche 5
Dinah 5
Eleanor 5
Esther 5
Gertrude 5
Grace 5
Harriett 5
Minnie 5
Susanna 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 159
William 134
George 98
Thomas 84
Joseph 66
Robert 64
James 60
Charles 47
Henry 37
Arthur 31
Walter 26
Alfred 21
Herbert 16
Albert 15
Edward 15
Fred 15
Samuel 15
Frederick 14
Richard 14
Benjamin 12
Frank 12
Harry 12
Edwin 10
Ernest 10
Isaac 10
Tom 10
David 9
Turner 8
Peter 7
Christopher 6
Francis 6
Joshua 6
Matthew 6
Stephen 6
Edmund 5
Geo. 5
Jas. 5
Thos. 5
Enoch 4
Jacob 4
Jonas 4
Percy 4
Sam 4
Wm. 4
Daniel 3
Joe 3
Jonathan 3
Lewis 3
Sidney 3
Smith 3

FAQ

Snowden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Snowden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,661 people were recorded with the Snowden surname. That placed it at #1,666 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Snowden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,371 in 2016. That gives Snowden a modern rank of #2,012.

What does the Snowden surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "snow-covered hill."

What does the Snowden map show?

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