NameCensus.

UK surname

Skeldon

A locational surname derived from Skeldon, a village in North Yorkshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 303 people recorded with the Skeldon surname, ranking it #9,654 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 618, ranked #8,511, up from #9,654 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Sedgley and Tipton otherwise Tibington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Drylaw, Berwickshire Central and Wolverhampton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Skeldon is 636 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 104.0%.

1881 census count

303

Ranked #9,654

Modern count

618

2016, ranked #8,511

Peak year

1999

636 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Skeldon had 303 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,654 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 618 in 2016, ranked #8,511.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 562 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Skeldon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Skeldon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Skeldon 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 188 #10,939
1861 historical 174 #13,483
1881 historical 303 #9,654
1891 historical 453 #8,038
1901 historical 562 #7,419
1911 historical 412 #9,097
1997 modern 579 #8,354
1998 modern 628 #8,120
1999 modern 636 #8,095
2000 modern 615 #8,287
2001 modern 595 #8,348
2002 modern 609 #8,368
2003 modern 611 #8,216
2004 modern 590 #8,453
2005 modern 576 #8,512
2006 modern 573 #8,575
2007 modern 585 #8,527
2008 modern 584 #8,591
2009 modern 597 #8,629
2010 modern 615 #8,626
2011 modern 617 #8,500
2012 modern 609 #8,508
2013 modern 617 #8,548
2014 modern 620 #8,575
2015 modern 614 #8,573
2016 modern 618 #8,511

Geography

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Where Skeldons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Sedgley, Tipton otherwise Tibington, Oldhamstocks and Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Drylaw, Berwickshire Central, Wolverhampton and Tameside. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Sedgley Staffordshire
3 Tipton otherwise Tibington Staffordshire
4 Oldhamstocks Haddington
5 Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Drylaw City of Edinburgh
2 Berwickshire Central Scottish Borders
3 Wolverhampton 018 Wolverhampton
4 Tameside 001 Tameside
5 Wolverhampton 035 Wolverhampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Skeldon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Skeldon

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Skeldon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Skeldon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Skeldon 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

Skeldon is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Skeldon 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 Skeldon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Skeldon

The surname Skeldon originated in England during the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "scylf" meaning shelf or ledge, and "dun" meaning hill or down. This suggests the name likely referred to someone who lived near a prominent ledge or hilltop area.

One of the earliest known recordings of the Skeldon name dates back to 1327 in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire. It appeared as "Richard de Skeldone", with the locative 'de' prefix indicating he hailed from the place called Skeldon. This place name can be traced to the village of Skeldon near Colne in Lancashire.

In the 16th century, records show John Skeldon was born around 1520 in Yorkshire. He went on to become a respected lawyer and served as a Justice of the Peace. Another early bearer was Thomas Skeldon (c.1530-1592) who was a merchant and sheriff of Canterbury.

The Skeldon name experienced some variations in spelling over the centuries, including Skelden, Skeldyn, and Skildon. It's possible these divergent spellings indicated different branches of the family line or arose due to inconsistent historical record-keeping.

One noteworthy individual was Sir John Skelton (1463-1529), an English poet and tutor to King Henry VIII's eldest son. While his surname was spelled differently, Skelton's ancestry may have derived from the same root as the Skeldon name.

Other examples from history include the philosopher William Skeldon (1763-1848), born in Cumberland, and Anglican priest Charles Ingram Skelding (1888-1977), whose family had changed the spelling slightly over time. The soldier and engineer Sir Bevil Granville Skeldon (1894-1977) also bore this distinguished surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Skeldon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Skeldon 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. Staffordshire leads with 68 Skeldons recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.79x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 68 6.79x
East Lothian 59 150.20x
Berwickshire 44 122.53x
Northumberland 27 6.12x
Worcestershire 27 6.97x
Cheshire 20 3.06x
Lancashire 14 0.40x
Warwickshire 10 1.34x
Yorkshire 8 0.27x
Midlothian 7 1.76x
Durham 6 0.68x
Lanarkshire 5 0.52x
Surrey 5 0.35x
Leicestershire 3 0.91x
Middlesex 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oldbury in Worcestershire leads with 20 Skeldons recorded in 1881 and an index of 104.99x.

Place Total Index
Oldbury 20 104.99x
Oldhamstocks 17 2931.03x
Wednesbury 16 63.95x
Innerwick 14 1772.15x
Monks Coppenhall 14 56.68x
Haddington 12 206.90x
West Bromwich 12 20.94x
Mordington 11 2972.97x
Wolverhampton 11 14.29x
Bilston 10 51.55x
Bedlington 9 61.10x
Birmingham 9 3.61x
Gladsmuir 9 514.29x
Hutton 9 918.37x
Tynemouth 9 38.09x
Newcastle On Tyne St 8 34.98x
Tipton 8 26.10x
Dudley 7 14.87x
Eccles 6 382.17x
Worsley 6 27.66x
Dunse 5 146.63x
Handsworth 5 20.27x
Ladykirk 5 1136.36x
Sandbach 5 89.61x
Coldingham 4 123.84x
Glasgow 4 2.35x
Little Bolton 4 8.84x
Rowley Regis 4 14.34x
Aston Cum Aughton 3 125.00x
Calverley Cum Farsley 3 35.97x
Dunbar 3 54.45x
Edinburgh Greenside S 3 208.33x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 1.88x
Lambeth 3 1.16x
Lowesby 3 2142.86x
Whitworth 3 46.44x
Heaton Norris 2 9.99x
Salton 2 338.98x
Stockton On Tees 2 4.70x
Swinton 2 204.08x
Willenhall 2 10.67x
Athelstaneford 1 129.87x
Chester Holy Trinity 1 32.57x
Chipstead 1 153.85x
Chirton 1 10.01x
Cockburnspath 1 86.96x
Coleshill 1 41.67x
Darlington 1 2.94x
Foulden 1 250.00x
Garvald 1 129.87x
Govan 1 0.42x
Hammersmith London 1 1.37x
Kirkleatham 1 25.19x
Layton With Warbreck 1 7.75x
Saddleworth 1 4.41x
Salford 1 0.97x
South Leith 1 2.24x
Walton On Hill 1 158.73x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Sarah 10
Ann 7
Elizabeth 7
Margaret 5
Alice 4
Eliza 4
Catherine 3
Esther 3
Ellen 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Jane 2
Louisa 2
Selina 2
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Berm 1
Betsy 1
Diana 1
E. 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Evelyn 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Isabel 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Maria 1
May 1
Phlias 1
Rose 1
Ruth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 14
Joseph 10
Thomas 10
William 9
James 8
Peter 6
George 5
Samuel 4
Arthur 3
Daniel 3
David 3
Adam 2
Benjamin 2
Ezekiel 2
Henry 2
Robert 2
Thos. 2
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Beziah 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
Isaiah 1
Jos. 1
Noah 1
Rebecca 1
Richard 1
Sidney 1
Silas 1
Solomon 1

FAQ

Skeldon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Skeldon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 303 people were recorded with the Skeldon surname. That placed it at #9,654 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Skeldon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 618 in 2016. That gives Skeldon a modern rank of #8,511.

What does the Skeldon surname mean?

A locational surname derived from Skeldon, a village in North Yorkshire, England.

What does the Skeldon map show?

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