Contents [hide]

Snow History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Snow History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Snow is a name of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from the baptismal name for the son of Snow, a personal name in the same group of names that also included Winter and Frost. 1 "Snow is the same name as that of an old, perhaps a mythical, king of Denmark. " 2 Two sources claim the name was for someone who was "born in the time of Snow," 3 and a "descendant of Snow, a name given to one born in the time of snow; a white-haired or very light-complexioned person." 4

Early Origins of the Snow family

The surname Snow was first found in Worcestershire where Richard Snow was recorded in the Assize Rolls of 1221. A few years later, Robert Snou was listed in the Feet of Fines for Suffolk in 1239 and later again, Gilbert Snawe was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Essex in 1327. The same rolls but in Sussex included William le Snow in the same year. "Haylwardus Snew (c.950 Old English Bynames) is said to have been so called propter albedinem. [Latin: white hair]" 5

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: Henry Snou, Buckinghamshire; and William Snou, Oxfordshire and later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls listed Willelmus Snawe and Ricardus Snaw as holding lands there at that time. 1

Early History of the Snow family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Snow research. Another 86 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1593, 1597, 1600, 1640, 1648, 1667, 1679, 1749 and 1792 are included under the topic Early Snow History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Snow Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Snow have been found, including Snow, Snowe and others.

Early Notables of the Snow family

Notables of the family at this time include

Sir Jeremy Snow
John Snow, English Member of Parliament for Tregony 1593 and Yarmouth (Isle of Wight) 1597

Snow World Ranking

In the United States, the name Snow is the 567^th most popular surname with an estimated 52,227 people with that name. 6 However, in Canada, the name Snow is ranked the 606^th most popular surname with an estimated 8,367 people with that name. 7 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Snow is the 21^st popular surname with an estimated 774 people with that name. 8

Migration of the Snow family to Ireland

Some of the Snow family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 54 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Snow migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Among the first immigrants of the name Snow, or a variant listed above to cross the Atlantic and come to North America were :

Snow Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Nicholas Snow, who settled in Plymouth Massachusetts in 1620
Constance Snow, who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620 9
John Snow, who landed in Virginia in 1622 9
Nicholas Snow, of Middlesex who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1623 aboard the ship "Anne" 9
Thomas Snow, who landed in Virginia in 1623 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Snow Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Elfred Snow, who landed in Virginia in 1702 9
Elizabeth Snow, who landed in Virginia in 1724 9
Josiah Snow, who arrived in Virginia in 1724 9
John Snow, who arrived in America in 1746 9

Snow Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mr. Snow, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1822 9
Sarah Snow, aged 31, who arrived in New York in 1849 9
J Snow, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 9
B Snow, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 9
Albert Snow, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Snow migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Snow Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

John Snow & Sons of Harbour Grace, Newfoundland claim that the family were in possession of the lands before 1675 10
John Snow of Port de Grave, Newfoundland, claims property held before 1678 10

Snow Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Benjamin Snow U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 he became a Freeman in 1785 was a School Teacher, he received education at Dartmouth College 11
Mr. John Snow U.E. who settled in New Brunswick c. 1784 11

Snow migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Snow Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

James Snow, English convict from Somerset, who was transported aboard the "Argyle" on March 5th, 1831, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 12
Mr. William Snow, English convict who was convicted in Sussex, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 2nd February 1831, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 13
Mr. Charles Snow, (b. 1821), aged 16, English labourer who was convicted in Essex, England for life for burglary, transported aboard the "Emma Eugenia" on 2nd November 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1900 14
Mr. Thomas Snow, English convict who was convicted in Essex, England for life for burglary, transported aboard the "Emma Eugenia" on 2nd November 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1859 14
Mr. Thomas Snow, British Convict who was convicted in Monmouth, Wales for life, transported aboard the "Asia" on 20th July 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Snow migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Snow Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

William Snow, aged 28, a farmer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1842
Mary Snow, aged 39, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1842
Edwin Snow, aged 14, a tailor, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1842
Emma Snow, aged 11, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1842
William Snow, aged 10, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1842
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Snow migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 16

Snow Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Adan Snow, who settled in Barbados in 1660
George Snow, who settled in Barbados in 1685

Contemporary Notables of the name Snow (post 1700) +

Kenneth "Ken" Snow (1969-2020), American soccer forward for the United States National Team in 1988
Thomas Snow (b. 1981), American super-bantamweight professional boxer
Lorenzo Snow (1814-1901), American 5th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1898-1901)
Kate Snow (b. 1969), American television journalist for NBC News
John William Snow (b. 1939), American businessman and politician, the 73rd United States Secretary of the Treasury (2003-2006)
John Joyner Snow Jr. (b. 1945), American politician, Member of the North Carolina Senate (2005-2011)
Jack Thomas "J. T." Snow Jr. (b. 1968), American Major League Baseball player who played from 1992 to 2008
Garth E. Snow (b. 1969), American retired professional NHL ice hockey goaltender, current general manager of the New York Islanders
Francis Huntington Snow (1840-1908), American professor and 5th Chancellor of the University of Kansas
Edgar P. Snow (1905-1972), American journalist, believed to be the first Western journalist to interview Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong
... (Another 16 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Snow family +

Grover Shoe factory

Mr. Joshua F. Snow, American employee of the Grover Shoe factory in Brockton, Massachusetts on 20th March 1905 when the boiler exploded and collapsed the wooden building; he died 17
Mr. Stepnem Snow, American employee of the Grover Shoe factory in Brockton, Massachusetts on 20th March 1905 when the boiler exploded and collapsed the wooden building; he died 17

Halifax Explosion

Mr. John Snow (1917-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 18
Mrs. Catherine Winfred Snow (1894-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 18

HMS Hood

Mr. David J Snow (b. 1923), English Boy 1st Class serving for the Royal Navy from Knutsford, Cheshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 19

RMS Titanic

Mr. Eustace Philip Snow (1891-1912), aged 21, English trimmer from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and survived in collapsible life boat B. He died in 1966 20

USS Arizona

Mr. Rutherford H. Snow, American Water tender First Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 21

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Argyle voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1831 with 251 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/argyle/1831
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th March 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emma-eugenia
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 7th February 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1837
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
California Digital Newspaper from 21st March 1905 (retrieved on 5th August 2021.) Retrieved from https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SFC19050321.2.19&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html