Snider
An occupational surname meaning “tailor” or “cutter,” especially common as an Anglicized German or Dutch name.
The #1,088 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 9,604 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Snider is generally understood as an Anglicized form of Dutch and German occupational names for a tailor or cutter. The underlying root is Germanic: Dutch snijder and German Schneider are connected with the idea of cutting, with older forms ultimately tied to words meaning “to cut.” Historical dictionaries also relate it to Middle High German snider and, more remotely, Old Norse forms with the same sense.
History
The surname is well known in Dutch- and German-speaking areas and was carried into English-speaking countries by immigrants. In English records, Snider is often treated as a variant of Snyder, both reflecting the same occupational name. Because the form is relatively uncommon in older English usage, many bearers in the United States descend from later German or Dutch migration.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The same occupational idea behind Snider also lies behind the much more common German surname Schneider, one of the most widespread surnames in the German-speaking world.
From the historical record
“corner], SNIDER, an Anglicized form of the Dut. snijder = Gex. Schneider, M.H.Ger. snldare, = O.N. sniddari, 'cutter', 'tailor,' SNITTERBY (Scand.)BeL to Snitterby (Lines: A.D. 1314-15 Snytterby) = Snyth's Estate [the pers. name is f. a var. of O.N. snotr, wise : 1- O.N. 6^-r, estate, farm, etc]”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)