The Snowden surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 11,171 people carried this name — #3,233 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 26,400 people counted. That is up 4% from 10,788 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Snowden surname

A surname, variant of Snowdon.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Snowden» (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 local name, from where the family lived: ‘of Snowdon’.

An early record he cites: John Snowdone, Somerset, 1327–28 (1 Edward III) — Kirby's Quest (Somerset).

His entry covers Snowden and Snowdon.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 701 · public domain.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

40 families named Snowden, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 188 people lived in those households, 4.7 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 3 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

Pennsylvania 15
North Carolina 11
South Carolina 7
Maryland 6
Massachusetts 1

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

Snowden in American newspapers,
1906–1930.

Newspaper page from Omaha Daily Bee carrying the name Snowden
Omaha Daily Bee 1906-12-09
Newspaper page from El Mundo carrying the name Snowden
El Mundo 1924-05-17
Newspaper page from The Milwaukee Leader carrying the name Snowden
The Milwaukee Leader 1930-04-26

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 4,748 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Snowden in Australian newspapers,
1810s–1990s.

46,379 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Snowden. The most, 15,939, date from the 1920s. New South Wales 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 Tasmania, at 2.0 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 12,483
Queensland 10,227
Victoria 7,839
Western Australia 6,191
Tasmania 5,421
South Australia 3,818
ACT (Canberra) 304
Northern Territory 65

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

Who carried it

People named Snowden,
with a public archive behind them.

  • John M. Snowden
    John M. Snowden 1776–1845 · politician
  • Caroline Eliza Snowden d. 1899
  • Samuel Snowden d. 1850 · pastor
  • Richard Snowden 1688–1763
  • Thomas Snowden 1750–1803
  • Richard Snowden 1753–1825 · writer

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Snowden,
in the records of 7 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 States1,012 records

1,012 records of the Snowden name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 418
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 223
  • Other U.S. records 371
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Rowdell Snowden

    Born 1921 in Louisiana. Enlisted 1942 at Camp Livingston; driver from Caldwell Parish. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1998, buried at Smyrna Cemetery, Ruston, Louisiana.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Thomas Edward Snowden

    Born 1949; from Honolulu, Hawaii. U.S. Army, infantryman; killed in action 1971 in Quang Nam, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record William Snowden

    Arrived at New York in 1885 aboard the City of Richmond from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 23; laborer. From Cornwall, England; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 1,012 records for Snowden 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) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL) · 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: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia553 records

553 records of the Snowden name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 317
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 83
  • Other Australian records 153
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Robert Eccles Snowden

    Born 1880 in Hobart, Tasmania. Died 1935 in Tasmania, aged 54.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Cath Snowden

    Arrived in Victoria in 1854 aboard the Birmingham, aged 25; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. 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 Thomas Snowden

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the John Barry, arriving 1839; ticket of leave 1844.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)

Showing 3 of 553 records for Snowden in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain).

Canada41 records

41 records of the Snowden name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 16
  • City of Calgary cemetery records 10
  • Other Canadian records 15
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Kathleen Snowden

    Died 1994, aged 70; buried at Transcona Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Harry Lee Snowden

    Died 1955 in Amherst, Cumberland, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  3. A Canadian First World War grave register card for a soldier who died of wounds in 1917
    Example: Canadian war grave register, 1917
    War record Emmott Snowden

    Died in service in 1916.

    Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada.

Showing 3 of 41 records for Snowden 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. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Canadian First World War circumstances-of-death register (scan by Scottgraham87 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0).

United Kingdom36 records

36 records of the Snowden name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 28
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 7
  • Scottish rolls of honour, First World War 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John Snowden

    Buried in 1824 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 36.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record J. Snowden

    Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John Snowden

    Buried in 1818 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 68.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Showing 3 of 36 records for Snowden 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 Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

New Zealand19 records

19 records of the Snowden name in New Zealand
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 13
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 3
  • Other New Zealand records 3
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Jane Kerr McKutchen Snowden

    Died 1913, aged 27; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Grace Elizabeth Snowden

    Died 1951, aged 48; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Livre d’or of the French war dead, Paris
    Example: roll of the war dead
    War record E. Snowden

    New Zealand Machine Gun Corps. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 19 records for Snowden in New Zealand.

Counts: Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Livre d’or of the war dead, Paris, Ministère des pensions, Archives nationales (CC0).

France4 records

4 records of the Snowden 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 Marguerite Snowden

    Born 1902 in Crèvecœur-sur-l'Escaut (Nord); died 2000 in Saint-Quentin (Aisne).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record William Robert Snowden

    Born 1900 in Marcoing (Nord); died 1984 in Biarritz (Pyrénées-Atlantiques).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Nellie Marguerite Snowden

    Born 1895 in Marcoing (Nord); died 1973 in Saint-Quentin (Aisne).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 4 records for Snowden in France.

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).

Netherlands2 records

2 records of the Snowden name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 1
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 1
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Alce Snowden

    Married in 1625 in Rotterdam.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Elsie Francis Snowden

    In a population register.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)

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); U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Snowden.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Snowden 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.

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