NameCensus.

UK surname

Snowdon

A surname denoting someone from the town or village of Snowdon in Wales.

In the 1881 census there were 2,235 people recorded with the Snowdon surname, ranking it #1,990 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,854, ranked #2,354, down from #1,990 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hartlepool, Newcastle upon Tyne and Stockton-on-Tees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Snowdon is 3,033 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.7%.

1881 census count

2,235

Ranked #1,990

Modern count

2,854

2016, ranked #2,354

Peak year

2010

3,033 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Snowdon had 2,235 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,990 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,854 in 2016, ranked #2,354.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,817 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Snowdon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Snowdon surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Snowdon 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 1,262 #2,257
1861 historical 1,267 #2,252
1881 historical 2,235 #1,990
1891 historical 2,287 #2,045
1901 historical 2,817 #1,976
1911 historical 2,579 #1,982
1997 modern 2,848 #2,271
1998 modern 2,935 #2,295
1999 modern 2,986 #2,274
2000 modern 2,937 #2,294
2001 modern 2,913 #2,259
2002 modern 2,968 #2,265
2003 modern 2,908 #2,259
2004 modern 2,887 #2,282
2005 modern 2,823 #2,304
2006 modern 2,817 #2,309
2007 modern 2,821 #2,322
2008 modern 2,834 #2,327
2009 modern 2,940 #2,302
2010 modern 3,033 #2,278
2011 modern 3,008 #2,272
2012 modern 2,907 #2,303
2013 modern 2,937 #2,317
2014 modern 2,949 #2,319
2015 modern 2,892 #2,333
2016 modern 2,854 #2,354

Geography

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Where Snowdons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Gateshead, Newcastle All Saints and Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hartlepool, Newcastle upon Tyne, Stockton-on-Tees, Richmondshire and Sunderland. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland
5 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hartlepool 002 Hartlepool
2 Newcastle upon Tyne 030 Newcastle upon Tyne
3 Stockton-on-Tees 012 Stockton-on-Tees
4 Richmondshire 001 Richmondshire
5 Sunderland 021 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Snowdon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Snowdon

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Snowdon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Snowdon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Snowdon 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

Snowdon 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

Snowdon falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Snowdon

The surname Snowdon is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "snaw" meaning snow and "dun" meaning hill or down, referring to a settlement near a snow-capped hill or mountain. This name is closely associated with the Snowdonia region of northwestern Wales, particularly the area around Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Snowdon can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Snaudun" in reference to a landowner in the county of Shropshire, England. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the spelling of the surname varied significantly, with forms such as Snawdun, Snoudun, and Snowdoun appearing in various historical records. These variations reflect the regional dialects and the evolving nature of English spelling during this period.

One notable figure bearing the surname Snowdon was Sir John Snowdon (c. 1350-1415), a Welsh knight and landowner who served as a member of Parliament for Anglesey in the early 15th century. Another important individual was Sir Ralph Snowdon (c. 1460-1520), a wealthy merchant and Lord Mayor of London in 1516.

In the 16th century, the surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Shropshire, Cheshire, and Lancashire, where several prominent families bearing the name resided. One such family was the Snowdons of Calveley Hall in Cheshire, whose lineage can be traced back to the 14th century.

The 17th century saw the rise of William Snowdon (1588-1655), a renowned English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Aldbury in Hertfordshire. Another notable figure was John Snowdon (1619-1693), a Baptist minister and religious writer who was influential in the early development of the Baptist movement in England.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the surname Snowdon continued to be well-represented in various fields, including politics, academia, and the arts. Examples include John Snowdon (1754-1832), a British architect responsible for the design of several notable buildings in London, and Henry Snowdon (1819-1901), a prominent Australian politician and businessman who served as the Premier of Tasmania.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Snowdon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Snowdon 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. Durham leads with 724 Snowdons recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.18x.

County Total Index
Durham 724 11.18x
Northumberland 432 13.34x
Yorkshire 429 1.99x
Lancashire 99 0.38x
Middlesex 94 0.43x
Cumberland 48 2.56x
Lincolnshire 47 1.35x
Nottinghamshire 37 1.26x
Surrey 33 0.31x
Westmorland 27 5.64x
Kent 26 0.35x
Cornwall 23 0.93x
Devon 23 0.51x
Norfolk 18 0.54x
Hampshire 17 0.38x
Staffordshire 15 0.20x
Dumfriesshire 14 2.91x
Cheshire 13 0.27x
Glamorgan 13 0.34x
Suffolk 13 0.49x
Derbyshire 12 0.35x
Warwickshire 10 0.18x
Essex 8 0.19x
Leicestershire 7 0.29x
Denbighshire 6 0.73x
Midlothian 6 0.21x
Lanarkshire 5 0.07x
Sussex 5 0.14x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.30x
Northamptonshire 4 0.20x
West Lothian 4 1.22x
Berkshire 3 0.18x
Renfrewshire 3 0.18x
Roxburghshire 3 0.76x
Angus 2 0.10x
Dorset 2 0.14x
Herefordshire 1 0.11x
Monmouthshire 1 0.06x
Worcestershire 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. Bishopwearmouth in Durham leads with 82 Snowdons recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.75x.

Place Total Index
Bishopwearmouth 82 14.75x
Gateshead 64 13.20x
Westgate 43 21.43x
Leeds 39 3.20x
Alnwick 35 62.84x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 35 18.09x
Stockton On Tees 35 11.21x
Stranton 30 13.76x
Elswick 28 10.83x
Monkwearmouth Shore 25 19.77x
Wolsingham 25 42.34x
Alston 24 69.48x
Newcastle On Tyne St 24 14.29x
Tynemouth 24 13.83x
Westoe 21 5.72x
Elvet 19 40.63x
Willington 19 50.76x
Chirton 18 24.55x
Keighley 18 7.83x
Ford 17 87.58x
Bedlington 16 14.79x
Darlington 16 6.40x
Horton 16 99.94x
Kirkby Moorside 16 116.45x
Pickering 16 58.89x
Hart 15 95.06x
Harton 14 54.71x
Crossgate 13 45.90x
Heworth 13 10.18x
Medomsley 13 43.03x
Barton Le Street 12 967.74x
Bethnal Green London 12 1.27x
Bishop Auckland 12 13.81x
Byker 12 7.49x
Earsdon 11 41.75x
Islington London 11 0.52x
Kirkby Stephen 11 88.64x
Lambeth 11 0.58x
Newton Cap 11 109.45x
North Shields 11 17.01x
Ruswarp 11 45.83x
Stokesley 11 81.78x
Strickland Roger 11 340.56x
Clarborough 10 45.56x
Cramlington 10 23.36x
Dukinfield 10 4.50x
Elland Cum Greetland 10 10.29x
Esh 10 21.21x
Haltwhistle 10 63.61x
Hartlepool 10 10.86x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 10 3.56x
Hetton Le Hole 10 12.18x
Holy Trinity 10 1.93x
Lochmaben 10 47.44x
Long Witton 10 1315.79x
Middridge 10 156.01x
Newchurch 10 4.73x
Paddington London 10 1.25x
Ryton Woodside 10 123.92x
Southampton St Mary 10 3.56x
St Ive 10 63.25x
Tanfield 10 12.98x
Blenkinsopp 9 165.44x
Cwmdu 9 19.48x
Frodingham 9 72.58x
Hackney London 9 0.74x
Newton Upon Ouse 9 204.55x
St Pancras London 9 0.51x
Stoke By Nayland 9 105.02x
Washington 9 33.14x
Wyke In Wetherby 9 849.06x
Benfieldside 8 18.78x
Hauxley 8 110.65x
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 8 30.43x
Manchester 8 0.69x
Prudhoe 8 35.49x
Southwick 8 13.04x
Thorpe Next Norwich 8 22.55x
Tunstall 8 24.81x
West Derby 8 1.06x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 171
Elizabeth 95
Jane 76
Sarah 62
Ann 54
Margaret 43
Annie 40
Isabella 33
Hannah 26
Frances 25
Ellen 24
Alice 20
Eliza 19
Emma 19
Martha 17
Eleanor 13
Edith 12
Emily 12
Anne 10
Charlotte 10
Louisa 10
Maria 10
Ada 9
Catherine 8
Clara 8
Esther 8
Gertrude 7
Lucy 7
Dorothy 6
Minnie 6
Rachel 6
Caroline 5
Elizth. 5
Ethel 5
Harriett 5
Jessie 5
Kate 5
Anna 4
Barbara 4
Grace 4
Harriet 4
Margret 4
Margt. 4
Rebecca 4
Helen 3
Josephine 3
Julia 3
Lavinia 3
Lilian 3
Maud 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 187
William 143
Thomas 120
Robert 74
George 66
Joseph 53
Henry 40
James 38
Charles 35
Edward 21
Matthew 18
Alfred 12
Arthur 12
Ernest 12
Richard 12
Frederick 11
Samuel 10
Wm. 10
Albert 8
Harry 8
Francis 7
Robt. 7
Anthony 6
David 5
Frank 5
Fred 5
Isaac 5
Tom 5
Benjamin 4
Christopher 4
Cuthbert 4
Jas. 4
Jonathan 4
Ralph 4
Abraham 3
Andrew 3
Basil 3
Gerald 3
Jacob 3
Leonard 3
Wilfred 3
Clement 2
Daniel 2
Fredk. 2
Geo. 2
Jno. 2
Math. 2
Mathew 2
Michael 2
Reuben 2

FAQ

Snowdon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Snowdon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,235 people were recorded with the Snowdon surname. That placed it at #1,990 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Snowdon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,854 in 2016. That gives Snowdon a modern rank of #2,354.

What does the Snowdon surname mean?

A surname denoting someone from the town or village of Snowdon in Wales.

What does the Snowdon map show?

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