NameCensus.

UK surname

Skeet

A surname possibly derived from a Scandinavian word meaning "to shoot" or "to project".

In the 1881 census there were 565 people recorded with the Skeet surname, ranking it #6,131 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 847, ranked #6,598, down from #6,131 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bromley, Great, London parishes and Ipswich St Clement and Warren House. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Braintree, Canterbury and Suffolk Coastal.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Skeet is 894 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 49.9%.

1881 census count

565

Ranked #6,131

Modern count

847

2016, ranked #6,598

Peak year

2000

894 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Skeet had 565 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,131 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 847 in 2016, ranked #6,598.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 854 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Skeet surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Skeet surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Skeet 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 378 #6,315
1861 historical 203 #11,865
1881 historical 565 #6,131
1891 historical 572 #6,649
1901 historical 729 #6,071
1911 historical 854 #5,191
1997 modern 858 #6,191
1998 modern 878 #6,285
1999 modern 877 #6,333
2000 modern 894 #6,206
2001 modern 875 #6,197
2002 modern 891 #6,228
2003 modern 873 #6,219
2004 modern 836 #6,427
2005 modern 821 #6,469
2006 modern 831 #6,419
2007 modern 824 #6,532
2008 modern 824 #6,581
2009 modern 829 #6,699
2010 modern 839 #6,759
2011 modern 839 #6,682
2012 modern 827 #6,666
2013 modern 841 #6,693
2014 modern 846 #6,682
2015 modern 835 #6,696
2016 modern 847 #6,598

Geography

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Where Skeets are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bromley, Great, London parishes, Ipswich St Clement and Warren House, Badingham and Ipswich St Mary Stoke. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Braintree, Canterbury, Suffolk Coastal, Colchester and East Staffordshire. 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 Bromley, Great Essex
2 London parishes London 3
3 Ipswich St Clement and Warren House Suffolk
4 Badingham Suffolk
5 Ipswich St Mary Stoke Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Braintree 005 Braintree
2 Canterbury 012 Canterbury
3 Suffolk Coastal 005 Suffolk Coastal
4 Colchester 017 Colchester
5 East Staffordshire 006 East Staffordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Skeet

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Skeet

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Skeet, 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 Skeet surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Skeet 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Skeet is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Skeet is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Skeet falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Skeet 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 Skeet, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Skeet

The surname Skeet has its origins in medieval England, tracing back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "scyt," which means "to shoot" or "to project." This suggests that the name may have originated as an occupational surname for an archer or someone skilled in using a bow and arrow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Skeet can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire, a census-like record compiled in 1273. This document mentions a person named William Skeet, providing evidence of the name's existence during that time period.

In the 14th century, the name Skeet appeared in various other historical records, including the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire from 1349, which mentioned a John Skeet. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1327 listed a Richard Skete, indicating a slight variation in the spelling.

The Domesday Book, a highly valuable historical record compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, does not contain any direct references to the surname Skeet. However, it does mention several place names that may have influenced the development of the surname, such as Skeyton in Norfolk and Skeffinton in Leicestershire.

Over the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the surname Skeet. One of the earliest was John Skeet (c. 1550-1612), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Bishop of Bristol from 1608 until his death.

Another prominent figure was Andrew McDougall Skeet (1833-1877), a Scottish-born explorer and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of Australian flora and fauna. He conducted extensive expeditions in the Australian outback and was instrumental in the discovery of several new plant and animal species.

In the realm of sports, Garry Skeet (1927-2009) was a renowned English cricketer who played for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club and represented England in Test matches during the 1950s.

The name Skeet also gained prominence in the field of acting with the late Michael Skeet (1942-2022), a British actor best known for his roles in television series such as "Bergerac" and "Heartbeat."

Additionally, Sir Graham Skeet (born 1946) is a distinguished British mathematician and computer scientist who made significant contributions to the development of programming languages and compiler design.

While the surname Skeet is not among the most common in the English-speaking world, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and has been borne by notable individuals across various fields, showcasing the diverse legacies associated with this surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Skeet families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Skeet 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. Suffolk leads with 159 Skeets recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.56x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 159 23.56x
Surrey 93 3.44x
Middlesex 90 1.62x
Norfolk 70 8.22x
Essex 51 4.66x
Kent 21 1.11x
Somerset 11 1.23x
Hampshire 9 0.79x
Lancashire 9 0.14x
Worcestershire 9 1.24x
Durham 8 0.49x
Hertfordshire 8 2.09x
Sussex 7 0.75x
Lincolnshire 5 0.56x
Cambridgeshire 4 1.14x
Midlothian 3 0.40x
Staffordshire 3 0.16x
Warwickshire 3 0.21x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.27x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.30x
Channel Islands 1 0.61x
Glamorgan 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Badingham in Suffolk leads with 22 Skeets recorded in 1881 and an index of 1718.75x.

Place Total Index
Badingham 22 1718.75x
Croydon 21 14.01x
Great Bromley 21 1532.85x
Ipswich St Margaret 18 78.60x
Gorleston 15 87.46x
Bethnal Green London 13 5.40x
Islington London 13 2.42x
Gillingham 11 28.22x
West Ham 11 4.56x
Chelsea London 10 5.99x
Hackney London 10 3.22x
Woking 10 61.46x
Castle Acre 9 355.73x
High Ham 9 422.54x
Ipswich St Clement 9 52.48x
Alderton 8 792.08x
Bishop Stortford 8 62.70x
Burnham Westgate 8 434.78x
Byfleet 8 333.33x
Chertsey 8 45.87x
Claydon 8 792.08x
Kirstead 8 2105.26x
Wherstead 8 1600.00x
Aldershot 7 18.40x
Brighton 7 3.71x
Bucklesham 7 1147.54x
Chatham 7 13.46x
Ipswich St Nicholas 7 188.17x
Kensington London 7 2.27x
Limehouse London 7 11.51x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 6.28x
Stranton 7 12.61x
Thorpe 7 603.45x
Worsley 7 17.27x
Bentley 6 779.22x
Bromley London 6 4.92x
Freston 6 1153.85x
Holme Next Sea 6 1034.48x
Holt 6 1304.35x
Horley 6 132.45x
Paddington London 6 2.95x
Ashbocking 5 833.33x
Battersea 5 2.45x
Colchester St Botolph 5 53.76x
East Walton 5 1428.57x
Framlingham 5 104.38x
Hambledon 5 174.83x
Mile End Old Town 5 5.72x
Mitcham 5 29.31x
Newton By Castleacre 5 3846.15x
Reigate Borough 5 80.26x
Ringland 5 806.45x
Rushmere 5 340.14x
Trimley St Martin 5 431.03x
East Molesey 4 63.90x
Fulham London 4 4.98x
Godalming 4 23.53x
Grantchester 4 183.49x
Great Grimsby 4 7.11x
Holbrook 4 270.27x
Kirby Le Soken 4 254.78x
Nayland 4 233.92x
Swardeston 4 625.00x
Taverham 4 1025.64x
Ipswich St Helen 3 37.50x
Lewisham 3 2.98x
Morton On Hill 3 1071.43x
Shotley 3 252.10x
Belstead 2 333.33x
Betchworth 2 60.06x
Clapham 2 2.89x
Ditchingham 2 98.04x
Huish Episcopi 2 157.48x
Kings Norton 2 3.08x
Kingswinford 2 2.95x
Nuneaton 2 12.35x
Shire Hall Yard 2 344.83x
St Marylebone London 2 0.68x
Willesden 2 3.83x
St Helier 1 1.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 29
Sarah 24
Ellen 14
Eliza 13
Alice 11
Emma 10
Emily 9
Elizabeth 8
Ann 7
Caroline 7
Jane 7
Susannah 7
Annie 6
Edith 6
Lucy 5
Ada 4
Amy 4
Catherine 4
Esther 4
Florence 4
Harriett 4
Minnie 4
Agnes 3
Clara 3
Elizth. 3
Hannah 3
Julia 3
Lily 3
Mabel 3
Maud 3
Susan 3
Alison 2
Amelia 2
Anna 2
Charlotte 2
Elisa 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Laura 2
Martha 2
Rosa 2
Winifred 2
Beatrice 1
Bessia 1
Bethia 1
Betsy 1
Elizbth.Tunbridge 1
Elvina 1
Jemima 1
Kate 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 35
George 27
James 23
John 20
Robert 20
Thomas 15
Charles 14
Henry 13
Arthur 12
Walter 12
Edward 10
Edgar 6
Albert 4
Frank 4
Fredrick 4
Geo. 4
Samuel 4
Abraham 3
Alfred 3
Frederick 3
Joseph 3
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Harold 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Benjamin 1
Bertie 1
Curtis 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edw. 1
Everett 1
Fredk.W. 1
Fredk.William 1
Henery 1
Jabez 1
Jesse 1
John. 1
Jonathan 1
Jos. 1
Luke 1
Matthew 1
Maurice 1
Nicholas 1
Percival 1
Peter 1
Saml. 1
Shadrack 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Skeet surname: questions and answers

How common was the Skeet surname in 1881?

In 1881, 565 people were recorded with the Skeet surname. That placed it at #6,131 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Skeet surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 847 in 2016. That gives Skeet a modern rank of #6,598.

What does the Skeet surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from a Scandinavian word meaning "to shoot" or "to project".

What does the Skeet map show?

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