UK surname
A habitational surname denoting someone from the town of Skipton in Yorkshire.
In the 1881 census there were 55 people recorded with the Skipton surname, ranking it #25,862 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 62, ranked #34,227, down from #25,862 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rowley Regis, Eldersfield and Tatenhill. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Skipton is 105 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.7%.
1881 census count
55
Ranked #25,862
Modern count
62
2016, ranked #34,227
Peak year
1911
105 bearers
Map years
1
1911 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Skipton surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Skipton surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 89 | #22,419 |
| 1881 | historical | 55 | #25,862 |
| 1891 | historical | 66 | #28,541 |
| 1901 | historical | 67 | #26,703 |
| 1911 | historical | 105 | #22,064 |
| 1997 | modern | 66 | #31,038 |
| 1998 | modern | 72 | #30,775 |
| 1999 | modern | 73 | #30,856 |
| 2000 | modern | 62 | #31,939 |
| 2001 | modern | 58 | #32,180 |
| 2002 | modern | 62 | #32,214 |
| 2003 | modern | 61 | #32,352 |
| 2004 | modern | 61 | #32,581 |
| 2005 | modern | 62 | #32,708 |
| 2006 | modern | 61 | #33,142 |
| 2007 | modern | 58 | #33,731 |
| 2008 | modern | 57 | #34,015 |
| 2009 | modern | 69 | #33,257 |
| 2010 | modern | 70 | #33,480 |
| 2011 | modern | 65 | #33,842 |
| 2012 | modern | 65 | #33,964 |
| 2013 | modern | 69 | #33,808 |
| 2014 | modern | 65 | #34,082 |
| 2015 | modern | 61 | #34,284 |
| 2016 | modern | 62 | #34,227 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rowley Regis, Eldersfield, Tatenhill, Bedwelty and Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rowley Regis | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Eldersfield | Worcestershire |
| 3 | Tatenhill | Staffordshire |
| 4 | Bedwelty | Monmouthshire |
| 5 | Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) | Staffordshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Skipton surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Skipton, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Skipton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Skipton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Skipton is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Skipton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Skipton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Skipton originated in England during the medieval period. It is a locational surname derived from the town of Skipton in Yorkshire, which was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Scipton." The name is believed to come from the Old English words "scip" meaning "sheep" and "tun" meaning "farm" or "enclosure," suggesting that the town may have been a center for sheep farming.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a person named Robert de Skipton is mentioned. This record indicates that the surname was already in use by the late 12th century.
In the 13th century, the surname appears in various forms, such as Skippton, Skyppton, and Skyptone. These variations likely reflect the different spellings and pronunciations used in different regions of England at the time.
During the medieval period, the Skipton family held lands and properties in Yorkshire, and several members were prominent figures in the local community. One notable bearer of the name was Sir William Skipton, who served as the High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1322.
In the 16th century, the Skipton surname gained further recognition with the rise of the Cliffords, a powerful family who held the titles of Earl of Cumberland and Baron de Clifford. Lady Anne Clifford, born in 1590, was a prominent figure of her time and is known for her literary works and her efforts to restore and preserve various castles and estates, including Skipton Castle.
Another significant figure bearing the Skipton surname was Sir John Skipton, who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was a successful merchant and served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1616.
In the 18th century, the Reverend John Skipton (1718-1805) was a notable clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "A Course of Lectures on the Holy Scriptures."
Throughout history, the Skipton surname has been associated with various occupations and professions, from landowners and noblemen to clergymen and merchants. While the name originated in Yorkshire, it has since spread to other parts of England and beyond, carried by families who migrated or established new branches.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Skipton surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 16 Skiptons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.98x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 16 | 2.98x |
| Staffordshire | 14 | 7.73x |
| Hampshire | 8 | 7.28x |
| Yorkshire | 5 | 0.94x |
| Gloucestershire | 3 | 2.85x |
| Durham | 2 | 1.25x |
| Cambridgeshire | 1 | 2.94x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.90x |
| Flintshire | 1 | 6.93x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 4.55x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 2.70x |
| Somerset | 1 | 1.16x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.38x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rowley Regis in Staffordshire leads with 13 Skiptons recorded in 1881 and an index of 257.43x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Rowley Regis | 13 | 257.43x |
| Portsea | 5 | 23.20x |
| Hammersmith London | 4 | 30.28x |
| Paddington London | 4 | 20.28x |
| Skipton | 4 | 239.52x |
| St Thomas Winchester | 3 | 384.62x |
| Heworth | 2 | 63.69x |
| Islington London | 2 | 3.85x |
| Kensington London | 2 | 6.71x |
| Bedminster | 1 | 12.33x |
| Bristol St James St Paul | 1 | 28.49x |
| Burton Upon Trent | 1 | 23.58x |
| Cirencester | 1 | 70.42x |
| Clifton | 1 | 18.80x |
| Finchley | 1 | 48.54x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 3.33x |
| Hereford St Peter | 1 | 169.49x |
| Hertford All Saints | 1 | 476.19x |
| Honiton | 1 | 161.29x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 2.14x |
| St Andrewthe Great | 1 | 227.27x |
| St George Hanover | 1 | 14.29x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 3.49x |
| Thornton In Bradford | 1 | 56.50x |
| Whitford | 1 | 133.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Skipton surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Skipton surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Skipton households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 10 |
| Nailmaker | 3 |
| Nail Maker | 2 |
| Rivet Maker | 2 |
| B.A. Oxford | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Errand Lad At A Grocers | 1 |
| Fireman | 1 |
| Gen Lab | 1 |
| Gen Serv | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| Housemaid Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Joiner | 1 |
| Licen RCS Ireland Licen RCP Edin | 1 |
| Lodging House Keeper | 1 |
| Miner (Coal) | 1 |
| Nail Forger | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Nurse Dom Serv | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Painter House Decorator | 1 |
| Rivet Forger | 1 |
| Rivet Makers Lab | 1 |
| Servant (Domestic) | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Teacher (Schoolm) | 1 |
| Timber Merchant | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 55 people were recorded with the Skipton surname. That placed it at #25,862 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 62 in 2016. That gives Skipton a modern rank of #34,227.
A habitational surname denoting someone from the town of Skipton in Yorkshire.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Skipton bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.