Show ContentsSnellin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Snellin family

The surname Snellin was first found in Cambridgeshire where the first recording of the family was found in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Snellinc. 1 Another source confirms this entry and adds that this was in fact, an entry a tenant who held the lands before the Conquest. 2

It is generally thought that the name was derived from the root surname Snell which was a nickname "for a brisk or active person, from the Middle English snell, quick, lively." 3

By the time of the Pipe Rolls, Andrew and Brithmarus Snelling were listed in Essex in 1204; Pat Snelling was found in Hertfordshire in 1222; and Rams Snelling was found in Norfolk c. 1250. 4

Kirby's Quest lists: Walter Snellyng; Michael Snellyng; and John Snellyng, all in Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of Edward III's reign.) 5

Early History of the Snellin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Snellin research. Another 72 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1582, 1583 and 1790 are included under the topic Early Snellin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Snellin Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Snelling, Snellinc, Snellin, Snellinge and others.

Early Notables of the Snellin family

Notables of the family at this time include

  • John Snelling of Chaddlewood


West Indies Snellin 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. 6
Snellin Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Robert Snellin who settled in Barbados in 1678 with his wife and son John


  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies


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