NameCensus.

UK surname

Skillington

A locative surname derived from a place name, possibly indicating origin or residence.

In the 1881 census there were 122 people recorded with the Skillington surname, ranking it #17,602 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 131, ranked #26,004, down from #17,602 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ilkley, Newark-on-Trent, East Stoke (East Stoke), Park Leys, Rolleston (Fiskerton), Morton and Birstall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Daventry, Ashfield and Newark and Sherwood.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Skillington is 165 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.4%.

1881 census count

122

Ranked #17,602

Modern count

131

2016, ranked #26,004

Peak year

1911

165 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Skillington had 122 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,602 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 131 in 2016, ranked #26,004.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 165 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Skillington surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Skillington surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Skillington 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 87 #18,695
1861 historical 77 #23,975
1881 historical 122 #17,602
1891 historical 105 #23,241
1901 historical 162 #17,271
1911 historical 165 #16,808
1997 modern 136 #22,398
1998 modern 126 #24,094
1999 modern 132 #23,602
2000 modern 146 #22,170
2001 modern 147 #21,756
2002 modern 140 #22,876
2003 modern 134 #23,260
2004 modern 140 #22,793
2005 modern 138 #22,999
2006 modern 127 #24,384
2007 modern 127 #24,748
2008 modern 126 #25,131
2009 modern 129 #25,314
2010 modern 125 #26,448
2011 modern 129 #25,673
2012 modern 129 #25,705
2013 modern 136 #25,252
2014 modern 140 #24,977
2015 modern 135 #25,481
2016 modern 131 #26,004

Geography

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Where Skillingtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ilkley, Newark-on-Trent, East Stoke (East Stoke), Park Leys, Rolleston (Fiskerton), Morton, Birstall, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory and Colsterworth (incl. Twyford). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Daventry, Ashfield, Newark and Sherwood, Aylesbury Vale and Broxtowe. 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 Ilkley Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Newark-on-Trent, East Stoke (East Stoke), Park Leys, Rolleston (Fiskerton), Morton Nottinghamshire
3 Birstall Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
5 Colsterworth (incl. Twyford) Lincolnshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Daventry 010 Daventry
2 Ashfield 004 Ashfield
3 Newark and Sherwood 008 Newark and Sherwood
4 Aylesbury Vale 001 Aylesbury Vale
5 Broxtowe 002 Broxtowe

Forenames

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First names often paired with Skillington

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Skillington

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Skillington surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Skillington household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Skillington is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Skillington is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Skillington

The surname Skillington is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the village of Skillington in Lincolnshire. The name itself is thought to come from the Old English words "scill" meaning "shrill" or "loud" and "tun" meaning "enclosure" or "settlement", suggesting that the name may have referred to a noisy or loud settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Skillington can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists a landowner named Willelmus de Schillingtone in Lincolnshire. This entry provides evidence that the name was in use in England as early as the 11th century.

In the 13th century, a man named Robert de Skyllington was recorded as holding lands in Leicestershire. This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time. During the same century, another record mentions a William de Skillington who was involved in a land dispute in Rutland.

In the 14th century, a prominent figure named John Skillington served as the Rector of Wymondham in Norfolk. He held this position from 1348 until his death in 1361. Another notable individual was Sir Robert Skillington, a member of the English gentry who lived in the late 15th century.

Moving into the 16th century, a man named Thomas Skillington was born in 1520 and became a renowned scholar and author. He wrote several works on theology and philosophy during his lifetime. Around the same period, a woman named Elizabeth Skillington (1535-1592) was recorded as a wealthy landowner in Lincolnshire.

In the 17th century, a prominent figure named William Skillington (1604-1677) served as a member of the English Parliament and was actively involved in the English Civil War. He fought on the side of the Parliamentarians and played a significant role in the conflict.

Throughout its history, the surname Skillington has been associated with various locations and place names, including Skillington in Lincolnshire, Skillington in Nottinghamshire, and Skillington in Leicestershire. These place names likely contributed to the spread and adoption of the surname across different regions of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Skillington families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Skillington 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. Yorkshire leads with 31 Skillingtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.67x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 31 2.67x
Nottinghamshire 27 17.12x
Leicestershire 19 14.64x
Lincolnshire 19 10.15x
Rutland 10 116.41x
Middlesex 7 0.60x
Essex 4 1.73x
Lancashire 3 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newark Upon Trent in Nottinghamshire leads with 16 Skillingtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 282.19x.

Place Total Index
Newark Upon Trent 16 282.19x
Colsterworth 10 2500.00x
Market Overton 10 6250.00x
Drighlington 8 473.37x
Leicester St Margaret 8 25.28x
Bottesford 7 1320.75x
High Low Bishopside 7 679.61x
Ilkley 6 315.79x
East Bridgford 5 1388.89x
Studley Roger 5 8333.33x
Barking 4 59.17x
Bourn 4 264.90x
Guiseley 4 268.46x
Manthorpe Cum Little 4 279.72x
Southwell 4 347.83x
Bow London 3 20.13x
Chorlton On Medlock 3 13.60x
Kensington London 2 3.07x
Leicester St Mary 2 19.08x
Bethnal Green London 1 1.97x
Cropwell Bishop 1 400.00x
Follifoot 1 500.00x
Grantham 1 40.98x
Great Easton 1 454.55x
Lutterworth 1 126.58x
Mile End Old Town 1 5.41x
Ruddington 1 94.34x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Ann 3
Annie 3
Eliza 3
Elizabeth 3
Sarah 3
Caroline 2
Emma 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Jane 2
Alice 1
Charlotte 1
Dinah 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Gertrude 1
Jemima 1
Jessie 1
Juliet 1
Leah 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Matilda 1
Millicent 1
Miria 1
Nancy 1
Priscilla 1
Rebecca 1
Sophia 1
Sushanah 1
Treandaphena 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 8
William 8
George 7
Charles 4
Fred 3
Frederick 3
Richard 3
Stephen 3
Thomas 3
Harry 2
James 2
Robert 2
Alfred 1
Ben 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
G.W. 1
Geo.Wm. 1
Henry 1
Jasper 1
Laurence 1
Matthew 1
Ralph 1
Simon 1
Walter 1
Wilfred 1

FAQ

Skillington surname: questions and answers

How common was the Skillington surname in 1881?

In 1881, 122 people were recorded with the Skillington surname. That placed it at #17,602 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Skillington surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 131 in 2016. That gives Skillington a modern rank of #26,004.

What does the Skillington surname mean?

A locative surname derived from a place name, possibly indicating origin or residence.

What does the Skillington map show?

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