NameCensus.

UK surname

Skiffington

A surname derived from a place name associated with a small boat or skiff.

In the 1881 census there were 62 people recorded with the Skiffington surname, ranking it #24,843 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 121, ranked #27,399, down from #24,843 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley, Hillingdon and Stockbridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Skiffington is 136 in 2006. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 95.2%.

1881 census count

62

Ranked #24,843

Modern count

121

2016, ranked #27,399

Peak year

2006

136 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Skiffington had 62 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,843 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 121 in 2016, ranked #27,399.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 95 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Skiffington surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Skiffington surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Skiffington 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 30 #27,891
1861 historical 69 #25,057
1881 historical 62 #24,843
1891 historical 77 #27,169
1901 historical 95 #23,462
1911 historical 45 #28,332
1997 modern 126 #23,461
1998 modern 126 #24,094
1999 modern 124 #24,508
2000 modern 126 #24,220
2001 modern 124 #24,114
2002 modern 125 #24,492
2003 modern 132 #23,459
2004 modern 130 #23,902
2005 modern 128 #24,076
2006 modern 136 #23,378
2007 modern 134 #23,931
2008 modern 126 #25,131
2009 modern 127 #25,564
2010 modern 130 #25,775
2011 modern 124 #26,367
2012 modern 117 #27,394
2013 modern 124 #26,842
2014 modern 124 #27,049
2015 modern 118 #27,833
2016 modern 121 #27,399

Geography

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Where Skiffingtons 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 Barnsley, Hillingdon, Stockbridge and Chapelhall West. 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 Barnsley 017 Barnsley
2 Barnsley 020 Barnsley
3 Hillingdon 011 Hillingdon
4 Stockbridge City of Edinburgh
5 Chapelhall West North Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Skiffington

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Skiffington

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Skiffington is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Skiffington 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

Skiffington falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Skiffington

The surname Skiffington has its origins in England, and it dates back to the medieval period. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English words "scyf" and "ing," which together mean "the people of the river shallows." This suggests that the name originally referred to a group of people who lived near a shallow portion of a river or stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Skiffington can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror. In this record, the name appears as "Scyffingtun," referring to a settlement in Leicestershire.

During the 13th century, the name Skiffington was associated with a village in Warwickshire, which was known as "Skeffington" or "Skevington." This village likely took its name from the nearby river or stream, and it served as the ancestral home for many families bearing the Skiffington surname.

One notable figure in the history of the Skiffington name was Sir William Skiffington, who lived from around 1440 to 1505. He was a prominent English soldier and served as the Lord Deputy of Ireland from 1492 to 1494. Another individual of note was Thomas Skiffington (1546-1629), an English Jesuit and Catholic martyr who was executed during the reign of King James I.

In the 16th century, the Skiffington family established themselves as landowners in Staffordshire, where they owned the manor of Wolseley Park. John Skiffington (1552-1629) was a member of this branch of the family and served as the Sheriff of Staffordshire in 1584.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, Sir John Skiffington (1612-1659) was a Royalist supporter and held the position of Governor of Hereford. He was later captured and imprisoned by Parliamentary forces.

Throughout the centuries, various spellings of the Skiffington surname have emerged, including Skeffington, Skevington, and Skivington. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Skiffington families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Skiffington 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. Lanarkshire leads with 21 Skiffingtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.74x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 21 10.74x
Lancashire 19 2.65x
Durham 12 6.67x
Middlesex 4 0.66x
Cheshire 1 0.75x
Essex 1 0.84x
Kent 1 0.48x
Shropshire 1 1.91x
Surrey 1 0.34x
Yorkshire 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bothwell in Lanarkshire leads with 14 Skiffingtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 264.15x.

Place Total Index
Bothwell 14 264.15x
Liverpool 8 18.36x
Govan 7 14.47x
Tanfield 7 327.10x
Manchester 5 15.49x
Penshaw 3 555.56x
Salford 3 14.22x
Clerkenwell London 2 14.02x
Toxteth Park 2 8.23x
Barnsley 1 16.18x
Barrow In Furness 1 10.25x
Croydon 1 6.11x
Deptford St Paul 1 6.29x
Gateshead 1 7.42x
Islington London 1 1.71x
Macclesfield 1 16.86x
Shifnal 1 70.42x
Silksworth 1 1250.00x
St Marylebone London 1 3.10x
West Ham 1 3.79x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 6
Michael 4
Patrick 3
William 2
Alorysius 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Richard 1
Robert 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 Skiffington households.

FAQ

Skiffington surname: questions and answers

How common was the Skiffington surname in 1881?

In 1881, 62 people were recorded with the Skiffington surname. That placed it at #24,843 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Skiffington surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 121 in 2016. That gives Skiffington a modern rank of #27,399.

What does the Skiffington surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name associated with a small boat or skiff.

What does the Skiffington map show?

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