Early Origins of the Snelson family
The surname Snelson was first found in
Cheshire where they held a
family seat as Lords of the Manor. After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William, Duke of
Normandy, having prevailed over King Harold, granted most of Britain to his many victorious Barons. It was not uncommon to find a
Baron, or a Bishop, with 60 or more Lordships scattered throughout the country. These he gave to his sons, nephews and other junior lines of his family and they became known as under-tenants. They adopted the Norman system of surnames which identified the under-tenant with his holdings so as to distinguish him from the senior stem of the family. After many rebellious wars between his Barons, Duke William, commissioned a census of all
England to determine in 1086, settling once and for all, who held which land. He called the census the
Domesday Book,
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8) indicating that those holders registered would hold the land until the end of time. Hence, conjecturally, the surname is descended from the
tenant of the lands and village of Snelson, held by Ranulf Mainwaring, a Norman noble, who was recorded in the
Domesday Book census of 1086.
Early History of the Snelson family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Snelson research.
Another 233 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1476, 1510, and 1600 are included under the topic Early Snelson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Snelson Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Snelson, Snelston, Snellston, Snellson, Smelson and many more.
Early Notables of the Snelson family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Snelson Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Snelson family to the New World and Oceana
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Snelson Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- Charles Snelson, aged 18, who emigrated to the United States from London, in 1904
- Peter D. Snelson, aged 23, who settled in America from England, in 1907
- Thomas Snelson, aged 20, who landed in America from Baierly Hill, England, in 1908
- John Snelson, aged 33, who settled in America from England, in 1908
- Annie Snelson, aged 31, who settled in America from Brierly Hill, England, in 1908
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Snelson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- Charles Snelson, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Owen Glendowner" in 1864
Contemporary Notables of the name Snelson (post 1700)
- Wallace Eugene " W.E. Pete" Snelson (1923-2014), American businessman, journalist and politician, Texas State Senator from District 25 (1969-1983)
- Nicole "Nikki" Snelson, American stage actress
- Kenneth Snelson (b. 1927), American contemporary sculptor and photographer
- Thomas P. Snelson (b. 1920), American Democrat politician, Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Randolph County, 1947-50 [2]CITATION[CLOSE]
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 25) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html - Pete Snelson, American Democrat politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Texas 21st District, 1986 [2]CITATION[CLOSE]
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 25) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html - Floyd Snelson, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Georgia, 1888 [2]CITATION[CLOSE]
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 25) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html - George Matthew Snelson (1837-1901), English politician, 1st Mayor of Palmerston North (1877-1879)
- Rear Admiral David George Snelson CB, British former Royal Navy officer, Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces (2002-2004)