Origin of Snyder?

Question:Hello. I was interested in learning the origins of the last name "Snyder." I've been told that it's of German origin. However, I have heard of people who were full blooded Irish with the last name Snyder. To complicate matters more, I had a relative named "Harry Gilmore Snyder," "Gilmore" being a name of Scotts-Irish origin. Everyone tells me he was German, but I find it hard to believe 2 immigrants from Germany would give their son an Irish middle name. I have come to the conclusion that either both his parents were Irish, or at least his mother was Irish and her maiden name was Gilmore. Is there any way to research this? We have his social security card, if that helps any. Any thoughts?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Hello. I was interested in learning the origins of the last name "Snyder." I've been told that it's of German origin. However, I have heard of people who were full blooded Irish with the last name Snyder. To complicate matters more, I had a relative named "Harry Gilmore Snyder," "Gilmore" being a name of Scotts-Irish origin. Everyone tells me he was German, but I find it hard to believe 2 immigrants from Germany would give their son an Irish middle name. I have come to the conclusion that either both his parents were Irish, or at least his mother was Irish and her maiden name was Gilmore. Is there any way to research this? We have his social security card, if that helps any. Any thoughts?

What you are bumping into, is one of the most common problems here... is the 'origin' of a name, the same as the origin of a person? No, it is not, since a name can come from anywhere. Without research, it could easily turn out that Gilmore was the name of mom's best friend.
Of course, it's researchable...that's what genealogy is about. *smile*. The basic standard for the research is to start with you, and work back from yourself. Everything in genealogy is based in documentation, even that which you believe you "know".
Harry's social security card gives you the number by which you can get his file (about $27), and if he died since 1960ish, he should be in the social security death index (free). In addition, his death certificate should include the name(s) of his parents.
Assuming Harry was born pre 1930, you should be able to find him in the 1930 census, and possibly earlier than that. That will not only list his birth place but that of his parents. If they themselves are shown, the same applies to showing the birth place of their parents.
With all respect, it is misleading to come to any conclusion, without a record to verify this. In addition, it helps to let go of the idea that any name is of one certain origin. Find the specifics of the person.
www.rootsweb.com has a tutorial on researching your family, as well as free access to the social security death index.

I believe that Snyder and Snider are Dutch family names. They are from the German "Schneider" I know it means
"tailor" and is therefore an occupational name.

According to www.ancestry.com it's actually Dutch,

Snyder
Dutch: occupational name for a tailor, from an agent derivative of Middle Dutch sniden ‘to cut’.
Americanized form of German Schneider.

hope this helps.

Snyder is Dutch. As for answering your other questions, you would need to search his ancestry on both his mother's and father's side.

Gilmore

1. Scottish and Irish (Ulster): reduced Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Gille Mhoire (Scots), Mac Giolla Mhuire (Irish), patronymics from personal names meaning ‘servant of (the Virgin) Mary’.
2. Irish: in Armagh, reduced Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Giolla Mhura ‘servant of St. Mura (of Fahan, Donegal)’ or, in Sligo, of Mac Giolla Mhir ‘son of the spirited lad’.

Snyder

1. Dutch: occupational name for a tailor, from an agent derivative of Middle Dutch sniden ‘to cut’.
2. Americanized form of German Schneider.

Schneider

German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): occupational name for a tailor, literally ‘cutter’, from Middle High German snider, German Schneider, Yiddish shnayder. The same term was sometimes used to denote a woodcutter. This name is widespread throughout central and eastern Europe.