NameCensus.

UK surname

Skipper

A nickname for a ship's captain, later adopted as a surname.

In the 1881 census there were 1,125 people recorded with the Skipper surname, ranking it #3,544 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,619, ranked #3,846, down from #3,544 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Shipdham, London parishes and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Breckland and Great Yarmouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Skipper is 1,738 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 43.9%.

1881 census count

1,125

Ranked #3,544

Modern count

1,619

2016, ranked #3,846

Peak year

1998

1,738 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Skipper had 1,125 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,544 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,619 in 2016, ranked #3,846.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,549 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Skipper surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Skipper surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Skipper 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 772 #3,459
1861 historical 646 #4,158
1881 historical 1,125 #3,544
1891 historical 1,154 #3,699
1901 historical 1,439 #3,532
1911 historical 1,549 #3,129
1997 modern 1,697 #3,518
1998 modern 1,738 #3,570
1999 modern 1,719 #3,624
2000 modern 1,736 #3,579
2001 modern 1,710 #3,560
2002 modern 1,736 #3,589
2003 modern 1,682 #3,611
2004 modern 1,636 #3,700
2005 modern 1,600 #3,735
2006 modern 1,563 #3,805
2007 modern 1,589 #3,791
2008 modern 1,596 #3,800
2009 modern 1,633 #3,817
2010 modern 1,647 #3,861
2011 modern 1,601 #3,908
2012 modern 1,561 #3,933
2013 modern 1,622 #3,871
2014 modern 1,656 #3,819
2015 modern 1,629 #3,834
2016 modern 1,619 #3,846

Geography

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Where Skippers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Shipdham, London parishes, Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Breckland and Great Yarmouth. 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 Shipdham Norfolk
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk
5 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 004 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
2 Breckland 001 Breckland
3 Breckland 002 Breckland
4 Breckland 006 Breckland
5 Great Yarmouth 012 Great Yarmouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Skipper

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Skipper

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

London Fringe

Within London, Skipper is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Skipper is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Skipper falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Skipper

The surname SKIPPER is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "scipere," which referred to a boatman or sailor. This occupation-based surname first emerged in the coastal regions of England during the late medieval period, particularly in areas with significant maritime activities.

One of the earliest documented references to the SKIPPER name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Norfolk from 1327, where a Robert le Skippere is recorded. The use of the prefix "le" indicates the occupational nature of the surname during that time.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various spellings such as Skipere, Skippere, and Schipper, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time. This is evident in records from Essex, where a John Skippere was listed in the Feet of Fines in 1381.

The SKIPPER surname is also associated with certain place names in England, such as Skipper's Isle, a small island off the coast of Essex, and Skipper's Hill, a location in Kent. These place names likely derived from individuals bearing the SKIPPER surname who lived or worked in those areas.

One notable figure with the SKIPPER surname was Thomas Skipper (c. 1508-1572), an English merchant and ship owner from King's Lynn, Norfolk. He was a prominent figure in the town's maritime trade and served as its mayor in 1558.

Another significant individual was Sir William Skipper (c. 1560-1635), an English naval commander and explorer. He played a crucial role in several expeditions to the West Indies and North America, and his exploits were documented in contemporary accounts.

In the 17th century, the SKIPPER surname can be found in the records of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, indicating the migration of individuals with this surname to the New World. One such early settler was John Skipper, who arrived in Virginia in 1635.

The SKIPPER name also has connections to the Dutch language, where "schipper" means "captain" or "skipper." This suggests potential links between the English and Dutch maritime communities, which may have influenced the adoption and spread of the surname.

By the 18th century, the SKIPPER surname had become well-established in various parts of England, with notable individuals such as Richard Skipper (1707-1783), a successful merchant and landowner from Lincolnshire, and William Skipper (1728-1804), a prominent architect and surveyor from Norfolk.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Skipper families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Skipper 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. Norfolk leads with 532 Skippers recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.53x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 532 31.53x
Middlesex 170 1.55x
Surrey 110 2.06x
Suffolk 68 5.09x
Durham 55 1.68x
Kent 32 0.85x
Yorkshire 29 0.27x
Essex 18 0.83x
Leicestershire 17 1.40x
Warwickshire 15 0.54x
Lancashire 14 0.11x
Cambridgeshire 11 1.58x
Staffordshire 9 0.24x
Derbyshire 8 0.47x
Lincolnshire 8 0.46x
Northumberland 7 0.43x
Northamptonshire 5 0.48x
Devon 4 0.18x
Flintshire 4 1.36x
Cheshire 2 0.08x
Cornwall 2 0.16x
Sussex 2 0.11x
Bedfordshire 1 0.18x
Hampshire 1 0.04x
Hertfordshire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kings Lynn St Margaret in Norfolk leads with 29 Skippers recorded in 1881 and an index of 57.24x.

Place Total Index
Kings Lynn St Margaret 29 57.24x
Lyng 29 1526.32x
Horning 27 1656.44x
Brancaster 25 865.05x
Heigham 25 27.60x
Lambeth 25 2.61x
Shipdham 25 436.30x
Battersea 22 5.45x
East Dereham 21 98.50x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 18 12.73x
Hingham 18 308.22x
Lewisham 18 9.02x
North Elmham 18 440.10x
Leicester St Margaret 16 5.39x
Trowse Cum Newton 16 383.69x
Wymondham 16 92.75x
Belton 15 641.03x
Camberwell 15 2.14x
Islington London 15 1.41x
Bethnal Green London 14 2.94x
Costessey 14 385.67x
South Creake 14 365.54x
St Pancras London 14 1.58x
Tottenham 14 8.01x
Mile End Old Town 13 7.50x
Sheringham 13 298.85x
Wimbledon 13 21.65x
Windle 13 17.74x
Bow London 12 8.59x
Marsham 12 576.92x
Castle Acre 11 219.56x
Great Yarmouth 11 7.87x
South Lynn 11 57.77x
Bermondsey 10 3.06x
Norwich St James 10 75.53x
Sawston 10 149.03x
Wingate 10 44.68x
Felixstow 9 276.07x
Hendon 9 22.80x
Hockering 9 642.86x
Horninglow 9 51.58x
Newington 9 2.22x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 9 82.19x
Saham Toney 9 197.80x
Shotley 9 381.36x
Westminster St John 9 6.73x
Bishopwearmouth 8 2.85x
Deptford St Paul 8 2.77x
Ipswich St Margaret 8 17.64x
Kenilworth 8 51.28x
Mileham 8 434.78x
Normanby In 8 27.52x
Surlingham 8 437.16x
Syderstone 8 412.37x
Croydon 7 2.36x
Hackney London 7 1.14x
Hampstead London 7 4.10x
Heston 7 19.20x
Mattishall 7 207.10x
Shoreditch London 7 1.47x
St Marylebone London 7 1.19x
Stockton On Tees 7 4.45x
Bromley London 6 2.49x
Brotton 6 42.28x
Coltishall 6 167.60x
Gorleston 6 17.67x
Great Massingham 6 180.18x
Longham 6 491.80x
Richmond 6 8.01x
Spitalfields London 6 7.27x
Sudbury St Gregory 6 56.02x
Tynemouth 6 6.86x
Barlborough 5 78.74x
Castleford 5 12.63x
Great Ellingham 5 200.80x
Ipswich St Clement 5 14.71x
Kings Cliffe 5 103.95x
Norwich St Stephen 5 32.28x
Swanton Morley 5 193.05x
Holywell 4 10.80x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 75
John 57
George 44
Charles 43
James 42
Robert 29
Henry 24
Arthur 16
Samuel 16
Thomas 16
Walter 15
Alfred 11
Frederick 11
Edward 8
Joseph 8
Richard 8
Stephen 6
Abraham 5
Albert 5
Benjamin 5
Harry 5
Herbert 5
Isaac 5
Wm. 4
Daniel 3
David 3
Elijah 3
Ernest 3
Fredrick 3
Philip 3
Constable 2
Edmond 2
Francis 2
Geo. 2
Hubert 2
Jacob 2
Martin 2
Mathew 2
Robt. 2
Uriah 2
Willm. 2
Arnold 1
Bennett 1
Chas. 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
Fred.W. 1
Frederic 1
Zackariah 1

FAQ

Skipper surname: questions and answers

How common was the Skipper surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,125 people were recorded with the Skipper surname. That placed it at #3,544 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Skipper surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,619 in 2016. That gives Skipper a modern rank of #3,846.

What does the Skipper surname mean?

A nickname for a ship's captain, later adopted as a surname.

What does the Skipper map show?

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