Surname Snowden - Meaning and Origin

Exploring Ancestry: A Technical and Personal Journey through iGENEA's DNA Test and the Story of the Snowden Surname

The DNA test conducted by iGENEA offered me a highly technical and accurate insight into my genetic ancestry. Unravelling my roots, the test revealed a significant correlation with Northern European populations, which aligned well with the historical origin of my surname, Snowden. This DNA test deepened my understanding of my surname and heritage, linking me back to my forebears and affirming that a surname is more than just a moniker—it is a story of origin, migration, and lineage.

L. Snowden

Snowden: What does the surname Snowden mean?

The surname Snowden is of English origin, generally believed to be a locational surname derived from a place name. There are places named Snowden in North and West Yorkshire, and in Durham, England. The name itself is thought to come from the old English words "snaw," meaning snow, and "dun," meaning hill or mountain; combined, it means "snowy hill" or "snowy mountain." This suggests the location may have been an elevated area that received frequent snowfall. Like many surnames derived from geographical locations, Snowden could have been adopted by people who lived in or near such an area or by individuals who migrated from there. So the name Snowden essentially identifies someone as coming from a snowy hill or mountain. This is quite common with surnames of Anglo-Saxon origin. As with other family names, there may be different branches of the Snowden family, each with its own slight variations in spelling and interpretation. It's also worth noting that the name has gained significant recognition in recent times through the globally known figure Edward Snowden.

Snowden: Where does the name Snowden come from?

The last name Snowden is most commonly found in the English-speaking world, especially in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. In the United States specifically, the surname is most often found in the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Ohio. Other states where a large number of people with the surname Snowden are located include Illinois, Oregon, Texas, and Georgia.

The earliest recorded reference to the surname Snowden dates back to the year 1273. Since then, it has been known to be an English surname, with roots in the old English word "Snaedeweu", which means woodlouse. As the name progressed through the generations, it became varied versions that included Snowdon and Snoden.

The investigation of ancestry for the last name Snowden reveals that it is a commonly found surname among people of Irish, English, and Scottish ancestry. Some of these people may have emigrated to the United States in the 19th century, settling in the states mentioned before.

In conclusion, the Snowden surname is most commonly found today in English-speaking countries such as the United States, England, and Canada, and its origin can be attributed to Irish, English, and Scottish ancestry.

Variations of the surname Snowden

The Snowden surname is believed to have derived from the Old English words 'snod' and 'an', which means 'a man who lives in a snood', or 'on a small wooded hill'. This was usually a small hamlet or settlement typically found in the Northern parts of England.

The variants of the Snowden surname include Snoden, Snodin, Snyden and Snydin. These spellings were popular during the 16th and 17th centuries. In Scotland, the names MacIntosh and MacIntoch have similar derivations from the same Old English root words, though both names are now considered variants of the Macintosh surname.

Surnames similar to Snowden, with the same root mean, include Snowdon, Snowdonne, Snodgrass, Snodgrass, Snowdene, Snodell, Snoday, Snodin, Snoader and Snidham.

The name has been well-represented in US records. It has been an English name since 1635 when one Richard Snowden was among the first to arrive in the Massachusetts Bay Colony; the Snowdens are still found today in many parts of the US. The Snowden family has a coat of arms to its name with decorations and symbols.

The Snowden is found in other parts of the world, including Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Armenia, and Australia.

Famous people with the name Snowden

• Edward Snowden: An American whistleblower and former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) employee and National Security Agency (NSA) contractor who is currently wanted by the US government for unauthorized leaking and unauthorized possession of classified material.
• Lonzo Snowden: Politician and community leader in the state of Arkansas.
• Thomas P. Snowden: Retired US Navy Chief Warrant Officer and a member of the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale Alumni chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.
• Ryan Snowden: American professional ice hockey player from Colorado.
• Richard Snowden: Internationally renowned pianist and chamber musician from England.
• Leslie Snowden: Political figure who served as mayor of Detroit, Michigan from 1962 to 1970.
• Lee Snowden: English professional footballer who has played for numerous soccer clubs across Europe.
• Gordon Snowden: British military technician and official photographer with the Royal Air Force who served in the Second World War.
• Nathan Snowden: Canadian singer-songwriter from Ontario, Canada.
• Bambi Snowden: American film and television actress, best known for her roles in the films Bedazzled, and The Haunting.

Other surnames

SnowdaySnowdon