Snelson Surname, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Buy JPG Image »

Snelson Early Origins

PDF Coat of Arms
+ Extended History

PDF Coat of Arms + Extended Surname History

Buy PDF History »

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, 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.

Snelson Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Snelson, Snelston, Snellston, Snellson, Smelson and many more.

Snelson Early History

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 Early Notables (pre 1700)

More information is included under the topic Early Snelson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

The Great Migration

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)

Snelson Family Crest Products

Citations

^ Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
^ The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 25) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html

Other References

Matthews, John. Matthews' American Armoury and Blue Book. London: John Matthews, 1911. Print.
Burke, Sir Bernard. General Armory Of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Ramsbury: Heraldry Today. Print.
Robb H. Amanda and Andrew Chesler. Encyclopedia of American Family Names. New York: Haper Collins, 1995. Print. (ISBN 0-06-270075-8).
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin . Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8).
Bolton, Charles Knowles. Bolton's American Armory. Baltimore: Heraldic Book Company, 1964. Print.
Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Galveston Texas 1896-1951. National Archives Washington DC. Print.
Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8).
Zieber, Eugene. Heraldry in America. Philadelphia: Genealogical Publishing Co. Print.
Crispin, M. Jackson and Leonce Mary. Falaise Roll Recording Prominent Companions of William Duke of Normandy at the Conquest of England. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing. Print.
Shirley, Evelyn Philip. Noble and Gentle Men of England Or Notes Touching The Arms and Descendants of the Ancient Knightley and Gentle Houses of England Arranged in their Respective Counties 3rd Edition. Westminster: John Bowyer Nichols and Sons, 1866. Print.
...

The Snelson Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Snelson Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.

This page was last modified on 25 November 2015 at 09:16.