NameCensus.

UK surname

Skillen

Of English origin, meaning one skilled at an occupation or craft.

In the 1881 census there were 202 people recorded with the Skillen surname, ranking it #12,753 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 613, ranked #8,566, up from #12,753 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kilbirnie, St Bees and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Allerdale, Wirral and IZ14.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Skillen is 655 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 203.5%.

1881 census count

202

Ranked #12,753

Modern count

613

2016, ranked #8,566

Peak year

2010

655 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Skillen had 202 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,753 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 613 in 2016, ranked #8,566.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 306 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Skillen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Skillen surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Skillen 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 48 #24,615
1861 historical 105 #20,298
1881 historical 202 #12,753
1891 historical 274 #11,880
1901 historical 306 #11,494
1911 historical 191 #15,392
1997 modern 576 #8,378
1998 modern 612 #8,275
1999 modern 635 #8,109
2000 modern 605 #8,379
2001 modern 590 #8,392
2002 modern 619 #8,262
2003 modern 592 #8,415
2004 modern 604 #8,309
2005 modern 616 #8,102
2006 modern 609 #8,193
2007 modern 623 #8,114
2008 modern 628 #8,121
2009 modern 638 #8,186
2010 modern 655 #8,190
2011 modern 641 #8,241
2012 modern 618 #8,395
2013 modern 623 #8,492
2014 modern 625 #8,533
2015 modern 620 #8,505
2016 modern 613 #8,566

Geography

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Where Skillens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kilbirnie, St Bees, London parishes, Liverpool and Gravesend, Milton next Gravesend. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Allerdale, Wirral and IZ14. 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 Kilbirnie Ayr
2 St Bees Cumberland
3 London parishes London 3
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Gravesend, Milton next Gravesend Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Allerdale 007 Allerdale
2 Wirral 011 Wirral
3 Wirral 016 Wirral
4 Allerdale 006 Allerdale
5 IZ14 East Lothian

Forenames

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First names often paired with Skillen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Skillen

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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, Skillen 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

Skillen 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

Skillen 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 Skillen 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 Skillen, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Skillen

The surname Skillen is believed to have originated in Ireland, potentially derived from the Gaelic word "scillinn," meaning a shilling or a coin. This connection suggests that the name may have been associated with someone involved in minting or trading currency during the Middle Ages.

The earliest known record of the Skillen surname dates back to the 16th century, appearing in various Irish historical documents and records. One notable mention is found in the "Annals of the Four Masters," a chronicle of medieval Irish history, which references a Seán Ó Scillín in the year 1585.

Several variations of the spelling can be found throughout historical records, including Skillen, Skillon, Skillin, and Scillin. These variations likely arose due to phonetic spellings and regional dialects across different parts of Ireland.

In terms of place names, the surname Skillen has been linked to the town of Skillon in County Louth, Ireland. This connection suggests that early bearers of the name may have originated from or resided in this area.

Notable individuals with the surname Skillen throughout history include:

1. Sir William Skillen (1572-1638), an Irish lawyer and judge who served as Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer during the reign of King Charles I.

2. Patrick Skillen (1786-1867), an Irish-born American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Pennsylvania from 1831 to 1835.

3. Edith Skillen (1881-1962), a British author and playwright known for her works on Irish folklore and mythology.

4. James Skillen (1907-1989), an Irish-born American prelate who served as the Bishop of Salina, Kansas, from 1957 to 1976.

5. John Skillen (born 1945), a Canadian philosopher and former executive director of the Association for Reformed Christian Higher Education, known for his work on political theory and Christian perspective on public life.

While the Skillen surname has its roots in Ireland, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly through Irish emigration to countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Skillen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Skillen 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. Ayrshire leads with 45 Skillens recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.37x.

County Total Index
Ayrshire 45 30.37x
Lancashire 26 1.11x
Cumberland 24 14.08x
Cheshire 20 4.58x
Kent 17 2.52x
Surrey 16 1.66x
Renfrewshire 11 7.17x
Lanarkshire 10 1.56x
Selkirkshire 8 44.67x
Essex 7 1.79x
Yorkshire 7 0.36x
Midlothian 4 1.51x
Glamorgan 2 0.58x
Middlesex 2 0.10x
Wiltshire 2 1.14x
Isle of Man 1 2.72x
Sussex 1 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birkenhead in Cheshire leads with 18 Skillens recorded in 1881 and an index of 51.66x.

Place Total Index
Birkenhead 18 51.66x
Kilbirnie 15 421.35x
Newington 9 12.30x
Sorn 8 274.91x
Ulverston 8 116.96x
Abbey 7 29.90x
Chapel Allerton 7 238.10x
Whitehaven 7 77.01x
Clapham 6 24.24x
Milton In Gravesend 6 59.23x
Arlecdon 5 110.38x
Auckinleck 5 108.93x
Cambusnethan 5 35.16x
Cleator 5 70.42x
Dreghorn 5 186.57x
Galston 5 123.46x
Kilmarnock 5 28.34x
Millom 5 95.79x
East Greenock 4 27.61x
Galashiels 4 60.42x
Govan 4 2.53x
Kirkdale 4 10.12x
Lasswade 4 66.01x
Lea Ashton Ingol 4 256.41x
Liverpool 4 2.80x
Melrose 4 88.69x
West Ham 4 4.64x
Ashton Under Lyne 3 5.84x
Gravesend 3 52.45x
Greenwich 3 9.52x
Tonbridge 3 12.31x
Beith 2 45.25x
Chippenham 2 54.50x
Greasby 2 1428.57x
Preston 2 3.18x
Swansea 2 512.82x
Walthamstow 2 14.21x
Woolwich 2 8.01x
Broadwater 1 13.05x
Glasgow 1 0.88x
Lambeth 1 0.58x
Onchan 1 9.44x
Preston Quarter 1 20.92x
St Marylebone London 1 0.95x
Thaxted 1 76.92x
Walton On Hill 1 7.86x
Westminster St 1 13.70x
Workington 1 10.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Robert 7
William 7
James 6
John 6
David 4
Thomas 4
Andrew 2
Edward 2
George 2
Henry 2
Adam 1
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Geo. 1
Geo.J. 1
Hugh 1
Matthew 1
Philip 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Wm.R. 1

FAQ

Skillen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Skillen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 202 people were recorded with the Skillen surname. That placed it at #12,753 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Skillen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 613 in 2016. That gives Skillen a modern rank of #8,566.

What does the Skillen surname mean?

Of English origin, meaning one skilled at an occupation or craft.

What does the Skillen map show?

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