NameCensus.

UK surname

Sked

In the 1881 census there were 151 people recorded with the Sked surname, ranking it #15,419 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 282, ranked #15,406, up from #15,419 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Humbie. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include IZ13, IZ15 and IZ16.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sked is 301 in 2001. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 86.8%.

1881 census count

151

Ranked #15,419

Modern count

282

2016, ranked #15,406

Peak year

2001

301 bearers

Map years

6

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sked had 151 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,419 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 282 in 2016, ranked #15,406.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 177 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Sked surname distribution map

The map shows where the Sked surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Sked surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sked over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 99 #17,294
1861 historical 99 #21,294
1881 historical 151 #15,419
1891 historical 177 #16,330
1901 historical 166 #17,011
1911 historical 14 #32,045
1997 modern 270 #14,515
1998 modern 289 #14,208
1999 modern 292 #14,204
2000 modern 299 #13,937
2001 modern 301 #13,700
2002 modern 290 #14,314
2003 modern 286 #14,259
2004 modern 289 #14,219
2005 modern 275 #14,624
2006 modern 270 #14,923
2007 modern 267 #15,225
2008 modern 266 #15,384
2009 modern 265 #15,756
2010 modern 278 #15,567
2011 modern 279 #15,353
2012 modern 272 #15,586
2013 modern 281 #15,487
2014 modern 287 #15,342
2015 modern 281 #15,457
2016 modern 282 #15,406

Geography

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Where Skeds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Humbie, Whittingehame and Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to IZ13, IZ15, IZ16, Douglas, Coalburn and Rigside and Cotswold. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Humbie Haddington
4 Whittingehame Haddington
5 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 IZ13 East Lothian
2 IZ15 East Lothian
3 IZ16 East Lothian
4 Douglas, Coalburn and Rigside South Lanarkshire
5 Cotswold 002 Cotswold

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sked

These lists show first names that appear often with the Sked surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sked

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Sked, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Sked surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Sked household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Sked is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sked is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sked falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sked is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Sked, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

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Sked families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sked surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. East Lothian leads with 77 Skeds recorded in 1881 and an index of 397.32x.

County Total Index
East Lothian 77 397.32x
Midlothian 39 19.90x
Lanarkshire 15 3.17x
Northumberland 6 2.76x
Roxburghshire 6 22.64x
Cheshire 4 1.24x
Yorkshire 2 0.14x
Peeblesshire 1 14.53x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Prestonkirk in East Lothian leads with 16 Skeds recorded in 1881 and an index of 1649.48x.

Place Total Index
Prestonkirk 16 1649.48x
Whittinghame 14 4375.00x
Garvald 12 3157.89x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 11 13.95x
Govan 10 8.55x
Humbie 10 2173.91x
Dirleton 7 921.05x
Kirknewton East 7 853.66x
Prestonpans 7 538.46x
Ratho 7 769.23x
Berwick North 6 441.18x
Tynemouth 6 51.46x
Barony 4 3.34x
Cranston 4 800.00x
Tranmere 4 33.70x
Ancrum 3 434.78x
Bowden 3 769.23x
Edinburgh Tolbooth 3 263.16x
Ormiston 3 588.24x
Edinburgh Lady Yesters 2 147.06x
Newington 2 50.13x
Pencaitland 2 363.64x
Biggar 1 93.46x
Edinburgh New 1 65.79x
Edinburgh St Marys 1 26.25x
Edinburgh St Stephens 1 25.91x
Peebles 1 49.26x
South Leith 1 4.53x
Stow 1 99.01x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Sked surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Margrett 2
Agnes 1
Eleanor 1
Gertrude 1
Maggie 1
Mary 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Sked surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Robert 2
James 1
John 1
Peter 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Sked households.

FAQ

Sked surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sked surname in 1881?

In 1881, 151 people were recorded with the Sked surname. That placed it at #15,419 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sked surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 282 in 2016. That gives Sked a modern rank of #15,406.

What does the Sked map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sked bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.