The Name

RIGIN OF THE name Snelling is clearly defined in the English language. In Old English, "snell" means quick or active. It probably is derived from Saxon roots which link it to it's Old High German counterpart "schnell", which also means agile, rapid or quick.

Other definitions include clever, smart, acute, keen and sharp on the brighter side and severe, extreme and harsh on the darker side.

The suffixes "-ing" and "-ling" are derived from Old English and both have the same basic meaning.

The "-ing" suffix, when preceded by a noun, means related to, belonging to or descendent of, such as Browning is a descendent of Brown. The "-ling" suffix means a small or young person or thing. An example would be a duckling, which is a small, young duck. It's somewhat akin to names like Johnson, which means "John's son", although less direct.

In the case of Snelling, the meaning would be more like "the offspring of Snell" rather than the "son of Snell." So the father of the first person named Snelling most likely was named Snell.

While many English names like Smith are derived from the occupation of the persion, "Snell" was more likely a description of the personality of an individual, like a nickname.

Earliest known Snellings

The first documented occurences of Snellings which we have uncovered were in Yorkshire in 1218 and 1219. Johannes filius Snelling is listed on the Pipe Rolls in 1218 and Alexander filius Snell appears on the Assize Rolls in 1219.

The Assize was originally a legislative assembly, but in England it also was court sessions which were periodically held in each county to try civil and criminal cases. Whether being on the Assize Rolls means Alexander filius Snell was in trouble is not clear.

In 1379, the Poll Tax rolls in Yorkshire list three Snellings including Willelmus Snelling, Ricardus Snelling and another Johannes Snelling.

In Boxley, Kent, there is a brass memorial plaque for William Snell dated 1451. It includes an illustration of a vicar in academic garb.

Four other brass memorial plaques for Snellings are located in the county of Surrey, southwest of London. In East Horsley, John Snellyng is remembered on a plaque dated 1496 and a second brass plaque dated 1504 memorializes another John Snelling.

At the All Saints Church in Kingston-upon-Thames, which is about 10 miles northeast of East Horsley, are brass plaques for Marke Snelling, who died in 1633, and his wife Anne, who died in 1623. Marke Snelling's plaque includes a family shield or crest and a lengthy inscription. He was an alderman in the City of London and was listed as "Esquire", which at that time was a title one rank below that of a knight.

Earlier in Kingston-upon-Thames, Marke's father George Snelling (listed as Snellyng) was selected bailiff 11 times between 1563 and 1610. The spelling of his name showed some variation during this period. The record of his first selection lists him as Snellyng. Each subsequent appointment lists him as George Snellinge.

The Snelling name reappears on the list of Kingston-upon-Thames bailiffs in 1619 with Thomas Snelling, who was Marke Snelling's brother. Thomas was selected a total of four times including 1619, 1623, 1628 and 1631.

Our links to England

We have not yet established a documented connection from our family to specific Snellings in England. We suspect, however, that the line of Snellings which emmigrated to Spain and later to the American colonies came from Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, and more specifically from Marke Snelling.

Below is an outline bearing links to a separate articles on a variety of topics, places and time frames.

• The Snellings of Surrey, England
  
• Marke Snelling of Kingston-upon-Thames

• Englishmen in Spain?

• The Mystery of Mother Dowen
  
• Our Theory about Mary Dowen
  
• Asa Snelling and the Revolutionary War
  
• Aaron Snelling and Mary Perry
  
• Snellings in Vermont