The Snell surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 22,177 people carried this name — #1,623 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 13,300 people counted. That is up 5% from 21,192 in 2000.

See Snell on the map Look up another surname

Share

What the name means

The meaning of the Snell surname

English surname, from the adjective snell. Also Americanized from German Schnell and Dutch snel, of the same meaning.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Snell» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a baptismal name, from a given name: ‘the son of Snel’.

An early record he cites: Johannes Snell’, 1379 — Poll Tax, West Riding of Yorkshire.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 700 · public domain.

In the Nordic population registers

474 people named Snell are counted in Sweden and Finland.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published. Finland counts its citizens, at home or abroad.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 269
Finland (2026) 205

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown) · Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV), Finland, surname statistics, August 2026 — CC BY 4.0.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Snell was found among the farmers of 3 counties.

It was most frequent in Cornwall: 40 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 250. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Cornwall 40
Devon 36
Suffolk 9

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

117 families named Snell, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 691 people lived in those households, 5.9 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 2 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Massachusetts 38
New York 15
North Carolina 14
Pennsylvania 10
Maryland 9
South Carolina 8
Rhode Island 6
New Hampshire 5
Maine 4
Virginia 4
Vermont 2
Connecticut 2

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 262 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Snell in American newspapers,
1902–1908.

Newspaper page from The Bee carrying the name Snell
The Bee 1908-05-28
Newspaper page from Catoctin Clarion carrying the name Snell
Catoctin Clarion 1902-12-25
Newspaper page from The Dakota Chief carrying the name Snell
The Dakota Chief 1908-06-11

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 191,406 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Snell in Australian newspapers,
1830s–1990s.

41,162 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Snell. The most, 6,467, date from the 1900s. South Australia has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in the Northern Territory, at 4.7 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

South Australia 9,524
Victoria 8,794
Western Australia 7,356
Queensland 7,313
New South Wales 7,116
Tasmania 648
Northern Territory 279
ACT (Canberra) 80

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Snell.

Who carried it

People named Snell,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Hamlin Valentine Snell d. 1886 · politician
  • John Snell d. 1587 · politician
  • Elizabeth Snell d. 1848
  • Ann Worth d. 1768
  • William Snell d. 1789
  • Sir Thomas Snell d. 1612

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Snell,
in the records of 11 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States2,135 records

2,135 records of the Snell name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 826
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 343
  • Other U.S. records 966
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Raleigh John Snell

    Born 1949; from Flushing, New York. U.S. Army, radio operator; died in an accident 1969 in Binh Dinh, South Vietnam. Buried at Long Island National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record William J. Snell

    Born 1914 in Massachusetts. Enlisted 1941 at Boston; salesperson from Barnstable County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1989, buried at St Joseph's Cemetery, Lynn, Massachusetts.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Haddon H. Snell

    Born 1901 in Oklahoma. Enlisted 1942 at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri; janitor. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1983, buried at Springfield National Cemetery, Missouri.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)

Showing 3 of 2,135 records for Snell in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain).

Australia1,177 records

1,177 records of the Snell name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 605
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 248
  • Other Australian records 324
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Michael Snell

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Mayda, sailing from Woolwich in 1845. Native of Suffolk. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1857. Married 1857 in Oatlands, Tasmania, aged 32.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record William Snell

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Katherine Stewart Forbes, arriving 1830; ticket of leave 1836.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Jane Snell

    Arrived in Victoria in 1855 aboard the Donald Mackay, aged 30; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,177 records for Snell in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Netherlands235 records

235 records of the Snell name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 90
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 89
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 56
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Johann Snell

    Married in 1905 in Harlingen. Died 1931 in Haarlem, aged 62.

    Open Archives, AlleFriezen (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Johannes Snell

    Married in 1940 in 's-Gravenhage. Died 1967 in 's-Gravenhage, aged 61; civil servant.

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Joannes Henricus Snell

    Married in 1844 in Rotterdam. Died 1862 in Rotterdam, aged 89.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 235 records for Snell in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Canada178 records

178 records of the Snell name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 115
  • City of Calgary cemetery records 27
  • Other Canadian records 36
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Jno Snell

    Came to Ontario in 1870 aboard the Tweed, landing at Quebec, bound for Ingersoll, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record John Simeon Snell

    Buried in 1982 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 89.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record William Snell

    Died 1994, aged 73; buried at Brookside Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.

Showing 3 of 178 records for Snell in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom42 records

42 records of the Snell name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 36
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 5
  • Welsh wills index cards 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Mary Snell

    Buried in 1820 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 24.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Margaret Snell

    Will proved in 1926; of Swansea.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)

Showing 2 of 42 records for Snell in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

New Zealand29 records

29 records of the Snell name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 27
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 1
  • Waimakariri District cemetery records, Canterbury 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Annie Amelia Snell

    Died 1973, aged 76; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Oamah Irene Snell

    Died 1988; buried at Rangiora Lawn Cemetery, Canterbury.

    Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 29 records for Snell in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Finland4 records

4 records of the Snell name in Finland
  • Finland's war dead, 1939–1945 3
  • Finland's war dead, 1914–1922 1
  1. A page of the Livre d’or of the French war dead, Paris
    Example: roll of the war dead
    War record Åke Vilhelm Snell

    Born 1922 in Kirkkonummi; farmer. Died in 1942 during Finland's wars of 1939–1945; buried in Kirkkonummi.

    Kansallisarkisto, via WarSampo (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 1 of 4 records for Snell in Finland.

Counts: Kansallisarkisto, via WarSampo (CC BY 4.0) · Kansallisarkisto, via Sotasurmasampo (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Livre d’or of the war dead, Paris, Ministère des pensions, Archives nationales (CC0).

Ireland1 record

1 record of the Snell name in Ireland County Galway graveyard records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Sarah Snell

    Died 1879; buried at St Marys, Tuam, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France1 record

1 record of the Snell name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Donald Robert Greene Snell

    Born 1928 in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc; died 1994 in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Germany1 record

1 record of the Snell name in Germany Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Siegfried Snell

    From Essen. Reported missing in the Prussian casualty list of 11 February 1919 (Infantry Regiment No. 131).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0).

Switzerland1 record

1 record of the Snell name in Switzerland Members of the Zürich cantonal parliament since 1803
  1. Zürich town hall on the Limmat, seat of the cantonal parliament, in 1891
    Pictured: Zürich town hall, 1891
    Public office Johann Philipp Ludwig Snell

    Born 1785. Member of the Zürich cantonal parliament; died 1853.

    Staatsarchiv des Kantons Zürich / Statistisches Amt des Kantons Zürich (open use)

Counts: Staatsarchiv des Kantons Zürich / Statistisches Amt des Kantons Zürich (open use). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Zürich town hall, 1891, Zentralbibliothek Zürich (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Snell.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Snell is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Snell volume
Scroll to Top