English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Snelson

Early-attested site in the Parish of Lavendon

Historical Forms

  • Snellestone(e) 1272 Ipm 1284 FA 1307 Pat 1325 Cl 1354 Ipm
  • Snelston 1513 ADi
  • Snelson 1826 B

Etymology

'Snell's farm.' The name Snell (Redin 25) may be either of English or Scandinavian origin. In the 12th cent., the name Snel was borne by a serf of Shaftesbury abbey, doubtless a man of English descent (Harl. MS 61). The same name forms the first element of Snelsmore (Berks), where, again, it is more likely to be English than Scandinavian. Snelston (Db) and Snelson (Ch) which are formally identical with the present name may contain either the English Snel , or the ON  Sniallr in an Anglicised form.

Places in the same Parish

Major Settlement