NameCensus.

UK surname

Skelson

In the 1881 census there were 39 people recorded with the Skelson surname, ranking it #28,137 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 78, ranked #33,171, down from #28,137 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Doncaster, Stoke-on-Trent and West Lindsey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Skelson is 105 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 100.0%.

1881 census count

39

Ranked #28,137

Modern count

78

2016, ranked #33,171

Peak year

1998

105 bearers

Map years

1

1998 to 1998

Key insights

  • Skelson had 39 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,137 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 78 in 2016, ranked #33,171.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 93 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Skelson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Skelson surname density by area, 1998 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Skelson 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 39 #26,319
1861 historical 93 #22,009
1881 historical 39 #28,137
1891 historical 72 #27,804
1901 historical 64 #27,010
1911 historical 62 #26,622
1997 modern 75 #30,109
1998 modern 105 #26,822
1999 modern 95 #28,465
2000 modern 101 #27,555
2001 modern 100 #27,402
2002 modern 97 #28,383
2003 modern 97 #28,217
2004 modern 94 #28,896
2005 modern 93 #29,133
2006 modern 98 #28,621
2007 modern 99 #28,852
2008 modern 100 #29,001
2009 modern 99 #29,754
2010 modern 98 #30,540
2011 modern 94 #31,016
2012 modern 88 #32,064
2013 modern 84 #32,745
2014 modern 81 #33,061
2015 modern 80 #33,052
2016 modern 78 #33,171

Geography

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Where Skelsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Doncaster, Stoke-on-Trent, West Lindsey and Staffordshire Moorlands. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Doncaster 009 Doncaster
2 Stoke-on-Trent 026 Stoke-on-Trent
3 West Lindsey 003 West Lindsey
4 Staffordshire Moorlands 006 Staffordshire Moorlands
5 Stoke-on-Trent 027 Stoke-on-Trent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Skelson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Skelson

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

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Skelson is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Skelson 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

Skelson falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Skelson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

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Skelson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Skelson 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. Leicestershire leads with 12 Skelsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.46x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 12 28.46x
Staffordshire 10 7.79x
Nottinghamshire 8 15.60x
Norfolk 7 11.97x
Shropshire 2 6.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Caverswall in Staffordshire leads with 7 Skelsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1044.78x.

Place Total Index
Caverswall 7 1044.78x
East Barsham 7 35000.00x
Nottingham St Mary 7 52.79x
Leicester St Leonard 6 1500.00x
Leicester Black Friars 4 1481.48x
Broseley 2 344.83x
Trentham 2 183.49x
Glen Parva 1 1000.00x
Leicester St Nicholas 1 416.67x
Standard Hill 1 833.33x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 7.34x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 3
Sarah 3
Ann 2
Clara 2
Florence 2
Mary 2
Annie 1
Emmer 1
Hannah 1
Lizzie 1
Mabel 1
P. 1
Rebecca 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 5
James 4
John 2
Arthur 1
Earnest 1
Edward 1
Frederick 1
Henry 1
Sam 1
Stephen 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 Skelson households.

FAQ

Skelson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Skelson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 39 people were recorded with the Skelson surname. That placed it at #28,137 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Skelson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 78 in 2016. That gives Skelson a modern rank of #33,171.

What does the Skelson map show?

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