NameCensus.

UK surname

Skeels

A surname possibly derived from a Scandinavian personal name or related to "skeel" meaning "shelter" or "shed."

In the 1881 census there were 289 people recorded with the Skeels surname, ranking it #9,968 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 612, ranked #8,580, up from #9,968 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, All Saints Poplar and Dalton-in-Furness. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fenland, East Cambridgeshire and King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Skeels is 673 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 111.8%.

1881 census count

289

Ranked #9,968

Modern count

612

2016, ranked #8,580

Peak year

1998

673 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Skeels had 289 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,968 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 612 in 2016, ranked #8,580.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 467 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Skeels surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Skeels surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Skeels 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 156 #12,552
1861 historical 134 #16,754
1881 historical 289 #9,968
1891 historical 301 #11,092
1901 historical 421 #9,141
1911 historical 467 #8,267
1997 modern 661 #7,579
1998 modern 673 #7,713
1999 modern 657 #7,883
2000 modern 652 #7,916
2001 modern 629 #7,985
2002 modern 647 #7,980
2003 modern 604 #8,283
2004 modern 626 #8,077
2005 modern 600 #8,274
2006 modern 597 #8,314
2007 modern 602 #8,331
2008 modern 605 #8,360
2009 modern 604 #8,557
2010 modern 632 #8,438
2011 modern 611 #8,558
2012 modern 597 #8,640
2013 modern 612 #8,609
2014 modern 609 #8,704
2015 modern 613 #8,592
2016 modern 612 #8,580

Geography

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Where Skeels' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, All Saints Poplar, Dalton-in-Furness, Wisbech St Peter and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fenland, East Cambridgeshire and King's Lynn and West Norfolk. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 All Saints Poplar London (East Districts)
3 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire
4 Wisbech St Peter Cambridgeshire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fenland 011 Fenland
2 East Cambridgeshire 006 East Cambridgeshire
3 Fenland 003 Fenland
4 Fenland 002 Fenland
5 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 016 King's Lynn and West Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Skeels

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Skeels

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Skeels, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Skeels surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Skeels household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Skeels is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Skeels is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Skeels falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Skeels is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Skeels

The surname Skeels has its origins in England, where it first emerged in the early medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "scield," which means "shield" or "protector." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who was a shield-bearer or a warrior known for their defensive skills.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Skeels can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Skeles" in the records for Lincolnshire and Norfolk, indicating that it was already in use by the late 11th century.

In the centuries that followed, the name Skeels evolved and appeared in various spellings, such as Skeles, Skeyles, and Skeals. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time. The name was also associated with certain place names, particularly in the counties of Lincolnshire and Norfolk, where it originated.

One notable bearer of the Skeels surname was Sir John Skeels, a prominent English landowner and politician who lived in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He served as a Member of Parliament for Lincolnshire and held significant estates in the region.

Another historical figure with the Skeels name was William Skeels, a sailor and explorer who participated in several voyages to the Americas in the late 16th century. He was part of the crew of Sir Francis Drake's famous circumnavigation of the globe between 1577 and 1580.

In the 17th century, the Skeels family established a presence in the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded settlers was John Skeels, who arrived in Virginia in 1635. His descendants went on to play important roles in the development of various regions across the United States.

Another notable bearer of the Skeels name was Robert Skeels, a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. He commanded several ships and was involved in several battles against the American colonists.

In the 19th century, the Skeels surname became more widespread, with families bearing this name found across various parts of England, as well as in the United States, Canada, and other English-speaking countries. One prominent individual from this period was Charles Skeels, an English poet and writer who published several collections of poems and literary works in the late 1800s.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Skeels families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Skeels 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 121 Skeels' recorded in 1881 and an index of 67.76x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 121 67.76x
Middlesex 51 1.81x
Lancashire 20 0.60x
Lincolnshire 15 3.33x
Surrey 15 1.09x
Northamptonshire 13 4.90x
Huntingdonshire 11 19.65x
Warwickshire 9 1.27x
Bedfordshire 6 4.11x
Dorset 4 2.16x
Essex 4 0.72x
Norfolk 3 0.69x
Staffordshire 3 0.32x
Sussex 3 0.63x
Yorkshire 3 0.11x
Derbyshire 2 0.45x
Leicestershire 2 0.64x
Berkshire 1 0.47x
Hampshire 1 0.17x
Hertfordshire 1 0.51x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chatteris in Cambridgeshire leads with 84 Skeels' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1842.11x.

Place Total Index
Chatteris 84 1842.11x
Poplar London 16 30.07x
Spotland 11 29.58x
Aston 9 4.60x
Barrow In Furness 9 19.78x
Bromley London 9 14.51x
Somersham 9 661.76x
Camberwell 6 3.33x
Croydon 6 7.87x
Islington London 6 2.20x
Mile End Old Town 6 13.48x
Newton 6 869.57x
Stotfold 6 215.05x
Sutton St Edmunds 6 937.50x
Wisbech St Peter 6 67.04x
Abthorpe 5 1136.36x
Thorney 5 252.53x
Wimblington 5 476.19x
Bothenhampton 4 769.23x
Deeping St Nicholas 4 303.03x
Northampton St Sepulchre 4 29.65x
St Andrewthe Great 4 173.16x
St Clement Danes 4 87.72x
Walthanstow 4 434.78x
Wisbech St Mary 4 195.12x
Bethnal Green London 3 2.45x
Hastings St Mary 3 25.36x
Lambeth 3 1.22x
Rushall 3 53.57x
Terrington St John 3 461.54x
Eccleshill 2 29.41x
Elm 2 114.29x
Leicester St Margaret 2 2.62x
Northampton St Giles 2 19.80x
Raunds 2 74.07x
St George In East 2 10.43x
St Marylebone London 2 1.33x
St Pancras London 2 0.88x
Sutton St James 2 370.37x
Upwell 2 152.67x
Argam 1 2500.00x
Belper 1 11.68x
Clewer 1 11.53x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 1 12.84x
Fen Ditton 1 156.25x
Fishtoft 1 113.64x
Hampstead London 1 2.28x
Huntingdon St Benedict 1 142.86x
Lymington 1 23.53x
Norton 1 27.47x
Snenton 1 6.70x
St Benedict Cambridge 1 99.01x
Sutton St Mary 1 23.47x
Warboys 1 61.73x
Watford 1 6.64x
Weston 1 121.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 17
Elizabeth 13
Mary 9
Eliza 7
Ann 6
Caroline 6
Emily 5
Susan 5
Ada 4
Harriet 4
Maria 4
Martha 4
Emma 3
Jane 3
Margaret 3
Rose 3
Annie 2
Catharine 2
Ellen 2
Frances 2
Hannah 2
Louisa 2
Lousia 2
Maud 2
Sophia 2
Adelaid 1
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Amy 1
Betsy 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Dora 1
Ella 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Florrince 1
Francis 1
Isabella 1
Lavinia 1
Lucy 1
Margrate 1
Marianne 1
Mildred 1
Phoebe 1
Stella 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 21
John 18
Thomas 15
James 11
George 10
Richard 10
Joseph 8
Arthur 7
Alfred 6
Charles 6
Henry 4
Albert 3
Edward 3
Frank 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Matthew 2
Walter 2
Aaron 1
Abbon 1
Andrew 1
Arther 1
Authur 1
Cecil 1
Christopher 1
Edwin 1
Elijah 1
Ernest 1
Ernie 1
Filch 1
Fred. 1
Henery 1
Henrey 1
Jessie 1
Leonard 1
Levi 1
Lewis 1
Mary 1
Serocold 1

FAQ

Skeels surname: questions and answers

How common was the Skeels surname in 1881?

In 1881, 289 people were recorded with the Skeels surname. That placed it at #9,968 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Skeels surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 612 in 2016. That gives Skeels a modern rank of #8,580.

What does the Skeels surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from a Scandinavian personal name or related to "skeel" meaning "shelter" or "shed."

What does the Skeels map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Skeels 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.