Explore the Family Name Sneddon
The meaning of Sneddon
Scottish: habitational name from the lands of Sneddon in Paisley (Renfrewshire), from Snawdon in Garvald and Barra (East Lothian), or perhaps from Snawdon near Thirlestane in Lauderdale (Berwickshire). Whichever placename is involved in the surname is ultimately from Old English snāw ‘snow’ + dūn ‘hill’, like the famous Snowdon in Wales. Those in Scotland may be independent coinings and literal descriptions of hills on which snow tended to lie long, but Snowdoun or Snawdoun also belong to a group of Arthurian names, popular in Scotland in the later Middle Ages, and may have been applied as such in the names mentioned and also in the case of the lost Snadown by St. Andrews (Fife). Stirling was regarded as standing on the boundary of the ancient Scottish and British kingdoms, with strong associations with King Arthur, making it possible for King David II to claim to the chronicler Jean Froissart in 1365 that Stirling Castle was the Snowdon of King Arthur. It may be that the placename(s) supplying the surname allude to this potent mythology.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Sneddon in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Sneddon has seen a slight shift in the early 21st century. In 2000, Sneddon was ranked 17,316th in popularity in the United States with 1,505 persons bearing the name, representing 0.56 per 100,000 residents. A decade later, in 2010, the surname’s rank dropped to 18,036, indicating a decrease in popularity by 4.16 percent. However, the number of people named Sneddon actually increased to 1,547, marking a growth rate of 2.79 percent, but the proportion per 100,000 dropped by 7.14 percent to 0.52.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #17,316 | #18,036 | -4.16% |
| Count | 1,505 | 1,547 | 2.79% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.56 | 0.52 | -7.14% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Sneddon
Discussing the ethnicity associated with the surname Sneddon as per the Decennial U.S. Census, it is predominantly carried by White individuals, making up 93.67 percent in 2010, down from 95.61 percent in 2000. The next highest representation comes from the Hispanic community, which saw an increase from 2.33 percent in 2000 to 3.23 percent in 2010. Individuals identifying with two or more races also increased their share from 1.13 percent to 1.68 percent over the same period. While in 2000, there was a small 0.47 percent bearing the surname within the Asian/Pacific Islander community, this percentage dropped to zero by 2010. Similarly, no Black individuals were recorded with the surname Sneddon in either census year, and a new appearance in 2010 were American Indian and Alaskan Natives, accounting for 0.71 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.61% | 93.67% | -2.03% |
| Hispanic | 2.33% | 3.23% | 38.63% |
| Two or More Races | 1.13% | 1.68% | 48.67% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0.71% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.47% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |