Snelling
An English surname meaning “son of Snell,” from an old personal name meaning quick or bold.
The #7,859 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 73,336 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Snelling is generally treated as a patronymic surname built on the Old English personal name Snell, meaning “quick,” “active,” or “bold.” The ending -ing in this context is an old kinship or descent suffix, so the name originally meant “Snell’s son” or “descendant of Snell.” Older writers also cite early forms in Domesday Book, which supports its very early English use.
History
The surname is recorded in medieval English sources, and 19th-century surname writers connected it with early place- and person-name forms in Domesday and later manorial records. It has long been established in England and later appears in English-speaking countries such as the United States. Some older references also treat Snelling as related to the family of Snell, with Snelling and Snelson as parallel patronymic forms.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Old surname writers noted that Snell and its derivatives were already in use before the Norman Conquest.
From the historical record
“Conquest. SNELLING. See Snell. Snellinc is found in Domesday, as a previous tenant. SNELSON. L See Snell. 2. A town- ship in Cheshire. SNEPP. Qy. Snnpe, a parisli In Suilblk, and a toAvnship in Yorkshire. SNEYD. A parish in Shropshire, and a hamlet in the parish of Tanstall, co. Staflbrd. From the latter the family”
— Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom