NameCensus.

UK surname

Skivington

Derived from a place name, possibly referring to someone from Skevington, a location in Leicestershire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 146 people recorded with the Skivington surname, ranking it #15,752 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 510, ranked #9,846, up from #15,752 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bothwell, Edinburgh and Greenock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Carmarthenshire, Ballingry and East Staffordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Skivington is 514 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 249.3%.

1881 census count

146

Ranked #15,752

Modern count

510

2016, ranked #9,846

Peak year

2010

514 bearers

Map years

6

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Skivington had 146 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,752 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 510 in 2016, ranked #9,846.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 197 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Routine Occupations or Retirement.

Skivington surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Skivington surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Skivington 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 60 #22,584
1861 historical 90 #22,312
1881 historical 146 #15,752
1891 historical 126 #20,604
1901 historical 197 #15,272
1911 historical 54 #27,423
1997 modern 422 #10,571
1998 modern 422 #10,928
1999 modern 423 #10,982
2000 modern 448 #10,477
2001 modern 446 #10,312
2002 modern 459 #10,264
2003 modern 445 #10,376
2004 modern 458 #10,158
2005 modern 456 #10,111
2006 modern 483 #9,722
2007 modern 483 #9,816
2008 modern 494 #9,738
2009 modern 498 #9,894
2010 modern 514 #9,838
2011 modern 481 #10,244
2012 modern 474 #10,254
2013 modern 497 #10,063
2014 modern 503 #10,038
2015 modern 506 #9,916
2016 modern 510 #9,846

Geography

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Where Skivingtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bothwell, Edinburgh, Greenock, Glasgow and Dalton-in-Furness. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Carmarthenshire, Ballingry, East Staffordshire, Petershill and North Tyneside. 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 Bothwell Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Greenock Renfrew
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Carmarthenshire 026 Carmarthenshire
2 Ballingry Fife
3 East Staffordshire 011 East Staffordshire
4 Petershill Glasgow City
5 North Tyneside 029 North Tyneside

Forenames

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First names often paired with Skivington

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Skivington

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Routine Occupations or Retirement

Nationally, the Skivington surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Routine Occupations or Retirement, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Skivington household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are characterised by high proportions of single, often never-married adults of normal retirement age or older, including many that are in the most advanced age groups. Most adults are UK born and live at high residential densities, and many of the children living with parents are in adulthood. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are uncommon, but above average proportions of households include individuals that identify with different ethnic groups. Long-term disability is relatively common, and the dominant accommodation type is flats. Unemployment rates are high, with most of those employed working in routine occupations. Few individuals have high level qualifications. Car ownership is not high.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Skivington is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Skivington is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Skivington 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 Skivington is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Skivington, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Skivington

The surname Skivington is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest records dating back to the 16th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English word "scife," meaning a shed or barn, combined with the suffix "-ing," indicating belonging or association. This suggests that the name initially referred to someone who lived near or worked in a shed or barn.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Warwick, Warwickshire, in 1592, where a John Skivington was listed as a christening. The spelling variations found in historical records include Skyvington, Skivyngton, and Skiventon.

In the 17th century, a notable figure named William Skivington (1625-1670) was a clergyman and author from Leicestershire, known for his religious writings and sermons. Another individual, John Skivington (1743-1811), was a prominent English miniature painter who exhibited his works at the Royal Academy.

During the 18th century, the Skivington family was well-established in various parts of England, particularly in Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire. Thomas Skivington (1766-1835), born in Oxfordshire, was a renowned architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in Oxford and the surrounding areas.

In the 19th century, a notable figure bearing the surname was Robert Skivington (1809-1887), a British soldier and explorer. He served in the British Army and was involved in various expeditions in Africa, including the Nile Expedition of 1834-1835.

Another significant individual was George Skivington (1857-1929), a British lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Lambeth North from 1910 to 1918. He was actively involved in legal reforms and the promotion of workers' rights.

Throughout history, the Skivington surname has been associated with various professions, including clergy, art, architecture, military service, law, and politics. While the name originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and immigration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Skivington families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Skivington 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. Lanarkshire leads with 32 Skivingtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.95x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 32 6.95x
Midlothian 17 8.91x
Yorkshire 17 1.20x
Staffordshire 16 3.33x
Hampshire 15 5.14x
Lancashire 14 0.83x
Surrey 9 1.30x
Derbyshire 6 2.69x
Dorset 6 6.42x
Renfrewshire 6 5.44x
Kent 2 0.41x
Cheshire 1 0.32x
Durham 1 0.24x
Lincolnshire 1 0.44x
Middlesex 1 0.07x
Northamptonshire 1 0.75x
Warwickshire 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Holdenhurst in Hampshire leads with 15 Skivingtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 195.82x.

Place Total Index
Holdenhurst 15 195.82x
Barony 10 8.58x
Barnsley 9 61.81x
Horninglow 9 398.23x
Thorpe 9 3000.00x
Barrow In Furness 8 34.81x
North Leith 7 79.28x
South Leith 7 32.60x
Wolverhampton 7 18.94x
Barlow 6 1333.33x
Dalziel 6 121.21x
Glasgow 6 7.34x
West Greenock 6 30.29x
Blandford Forum 5 271.74x
Dewsbury 5 34.55x
Govan 5 4.39x
Toxteth Park 5 8.74x
Bothwell 4 32.03x
Kirknewton 3 545.45x
York St George 2 180.18x
Aston 1 1.01x
Birkenhead 1 3.99x
Blantyre 1 20.83x
Elsham 1 416.67x
Esh 1 32.47x
Kensington London 1 1.26x
Lewisham 1 3.86x
Northampton St Sepulchre 1 14.68x
Thornaby 1 18.98x
Walmer 1 47.39x
Walton On Hill 1 10.93x
Winterborne Stickland 1 434.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
James 9
John 5
William 5
Charles 4
Atwell 2
Edward 2
Patrick 2
Thomas 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Fredrk. 1
George 1
Henry 1
Isaac 1
Laurence 1
Luke 1
Matthew 1
Michael 1
Oliver 1
Peter 1
Reginald 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Skivington surname: questions and answers

How common was the Skivington surname in 1881?

In 1881, 146 people were recorded with the Skivington surname. That placed it at #15,752 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Skivington surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 510 in 2016. That gives Skivington a modern rank of #9,846.

What does the Skivington surname mean?

Derived from a place name, possibly referring to someone from Skevington, a location in Leicestershire, England.

What does the Skivington map show?

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