NameCensus.

UK surname

Skillman

An occupational surname referring to a skilled or talented worker, especially one who works with their hands.

In the 1881 census there were 63 people recorded with the Skillman surname, ranking it #24,711 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 89, ranked #32,297, down from #24,711 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheltenham, Chichester and Sevenoaks.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Skillman is 131 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.3%.

1881 census count

63

Ranked #24,711

Modern count

89

2016, ranked #32,297

Peak year

1911

131 bearers

Map years

3

1901 to 1998

Key insights

  • Skillman had 63 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,711 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 89 in 2016, ranked #32,297.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 131 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Skillman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Skillman surname density by area, 1998 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Skillman 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 33 #27,390
1861 historical 70 #24,911
1881 historical 63 #24,711
1891 historical 96 #24,559
1901 historical 111 #21,492
1911 historical 131 #19,404
1997 modern 95 #27,638
1998 modern 105 #26,822
1999 modern 103 #27,305
2000 modern 101 #27,555
2001 modern 97 #27,823
2002 modern 95 #28,666
2003 modern 87 #29,615
2004 modern 87 #29,897
2005 modern 91 #29,406
2006 modern 81 #31,044
2007 modern 77 #31,856
2008 modern 77 #32,181
2009 modern 82 #32,048
2010 modern 81 #32,582
2011 modern 80 #32,652
2012 modern 87 #32,180
2013 modern 83 #32,813
2014 modern 87 #32,585
2015 modern 90 #32,245
2016 modern 89 #32,297

Geography

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Where Skillmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory, St John Hackney and Kettering. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheltenham, Chichester, Sevenoaks, North Somerset and Horsham. 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 London parishes London 1
2 St Pancras London (North Districts)
3 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
4 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
5 Kettering Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheltenham 011 Cheltenham
2 Chichester 003 Chichester
3 Sevenoaks 007 Sevenoaks
4 North Somerset 024 North Somerset
5 Horsham 012 Horsham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Skillman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Skillman

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Skillman 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

Skillman 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

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

Meaning and origin of Skillman

The surname Skillman is believed to have originated in England, deriving from the Old English words "scill" meaning skill or ability, and "man" meaning man or person. It likely first emerged in the medieval period to describe someone who possessed a particular skill or trade.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Skillman surname dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Scilleman" in the county of Essex. This suggests the name had already established itself in England by the late 11th century.

Over time, the surname evolved with various spellings such as Skilman, Skillman, and Skillman. These variations often reflected regional dialects and the preferences of individual record keepers or families.

Skillman was also used as a locational surname, referring to individuals who hailed from places like Skillington in Lincolnshire or Skelmanth in Cumberland. The name's association with specific locations may have contributed to its spread and adoption by different families.

One notable bearer of the Skillman name was John Skillman (1592-1671), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Upminster in Essex. His works included a book titled "The Parable of the Pilgrim" published in 1663.

Another Skillman of historical significance was Thomas Skillman (1718-1784), a Quaker preacher and abolitionist from Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He was an outspoken critic of slavery and played a role in the early anti-slavery movement in the American colonies.

In the 19th century, Isaac Skillman (1819-1897), a farmer from New Jersey, became a prominent figure in the Underground Railroad, providing shelter and assistance to escaped enslaved people on their journey to freedom.

Mary Skillman (1838-1914), born in New York, was a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights. She founded the Skillman Institute, one of the first schools in the United States to offer higher education to women.

Lastly, William Skillman (1858-1936), a businessman from New York, made significant contributions to the development of the automobile industry. He founded the Skillman Motor Company, which produced early gasoline-powered vehicles in the early 20th century.

While the Skillman surname has its roots in England, it has since spread across various parts of the world, particularly in countries with strong British colonial ties or immigration patterns.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Skillman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Skillman 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. Middlesex leads with 22 Skillmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.58x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 22 3.58x
Hertfordshire 20 47.23x
Surrey 8 2.67x
Bedfordshire 6 18.86x
Northamptonshire 6 10.38x
Berkshire 1 2.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Redbourn in Hertfordshire leads with 16 Skillmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3478.26x.

Place Total Index
Redbourn 16 3478.26x
St Pancras London 10 20.22x
Bermondsey 6 32.80x
Luton 6 108.89x
Northampton Priory St 6 172.91x
St George Hanover 5 62.34x
Hatfield 4 465.12x
Hammersmith London 2 13.22x
Islington London 2 3.36x
Spitalfields London 2 43.29x
Bray 1 74.07x
Ealing 1 18.21x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 8.09x
Wandsworth 1 16.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 4
Emma 4
Ellen 3
Sarah 3
Jane 2
Julia 2
Ada 1
Augusta 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Emily 1
Hannah 1
Hannahs 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
M.A. 1
Mary 1
Maud 1
Maude 1
Susanah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 5
Frederick 3
Charles 2
Daniel 2
George 2
John 2
Thomas 2
Arthur 1
Conrad 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Harry 1
Horatio 1
Joseph 1
Oswald 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Skillman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Skillman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 63 people were recorded with the Skillman surname. That placed it at #24,711 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Skillman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 89 in 2016. That gives Skillman a modern rank of #32,297.

What does the Skillman surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a skilled or talented worker, especially one who works with their hands.

What does the Skillman map show?

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