Severus Snape is known as the Half-Blood Prince because of his parentage and his choice to adopt his mother's pure-blood surname as part of his moniker.
The term "half-blood" refers to a witch or wizard who has both magical and Muggle ancestry. In Snape's case:
- His father was a Muggle.
- His mother, Eileen Prince, was a pure-blood witch.
Growing up with a Muggle father who was reportedly neglectful and sometimes abusive may have contributed to Snape's complicated feelings or even disdain for Muggles. At some point during his time at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Snape chose to distance himself from his father's identity.
He decided to reject his father's name entirely and instead created the nickname "The Half-Blood Prince." This moniker combines his status as a half-blood wizard with his mother's maiden name, Prince, which symbolized his magical heritage and possibly a connection to his mother's pure-blood family.
In summary, the name "The Half-Blood Prince" reflects:
- His parentage: He is a half-blood wizard (son of a Muggle father and a witch mother).
- His identity choice: He adopted his pure-blood mother's surname, Prince, rejecting his Muggle father's name.
This self-given title is found written in an old Potions textbook that Harry Potter later uses, containing many handwritten notes, spells, and improvements that prove crucial to Harry's success in Potions and other magical endeavors.
