Snavely
A surname most likely derived from an older Germanic place-name or nickname form that was later reshaped in English spelling.
The #9,061 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 85,596 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Snavely is generally treated as a surname of uncertain origin, but it is most likely linked to a Germanic name that was altered in Anglicized spelling after immigration to English-speaking countries. In many cases, surnames of this shape come from a place-name, a personal name, or a descriptive nickname that was respelled to fit English pronunciation. The ending -ly is often the result of later English spelling rather than a clue to the original meaning.
History
Snavely is found mainly in the United States, especially in families of German or Pennsylvania German background. Like many immigrant surnames, it appears to have been stabilized under several spellings before one form became dominant. Its modern distribution suggests a relatively small family line that spread through North American migration rather than a long, continuous English surname tradition.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The surname is often confused with Snively, but the two names are not always the same family line and may have separate histories.