NameCensus.

UK surname

Skuce

A Polish surname derived from a dialect word meaning "dense" or "thick".

In the 1881 census there were 74 people recorded with the Skuce surname, ranking it #23,062 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 105, ranked #30,114, down from #23,062 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Oxford City: St Giles, Barford, Great and Solihull, Church Bickenhill. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cherwell, South Northamptonshire and St Albans.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Skuce is 143 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.9%.

1881 census count

74

Ranked #23,062

Modern count

105

2016, ranked #30,114

Peak year

1911

143 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Skuce had 74 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,062 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016, ranked #30,114.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 143 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Skuce surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Skuce surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Skuce 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 68 #21,302
1861 historical 46 #28,170
1881 historical 74 #23,062
1891 historical 132 #19,976
1901 historical 124 #20,163
1911 historical 143 #18,401
1997 modern 115 #24,834
1998 modern 131 #23,495
1999 modern 135 #23,279
2000 modern 129 #23,901
2001 modern 129 #23,557
2002 modern 127 #24,267
2003 modern 121 #24,776
2004 modern 115 #25,740
2005 modern 111 #26,260
2006 modern 118 #25,556
2007 modern 115 #26,348
2008 modern 115 #26,635
2009 modern 112 #27,685
2010 modern 108 #28,996
2011 modern 108 #28,811
2012 modern 108 #28,849
2013 modern 107 #29,561
2014 modern 108 #29,658
2015 modern 107 #29,708
2016 modern 105 #30,114

Geography

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Where Skuces are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Oxford City: St Giles, Barford, Great, Solihull, Church Bickenhill, St Matthew Bethnal Green and Wroxton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cherwell, South Northamptonshire, St Albans and Welwyn Hatfield. 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 Oxford City: St Giles Oxfordshire
2 Barford, Great Oxfordshire
3 Solihull, Church Bickenhill Warwickshire
4 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)
5 Wroxton Oxfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cherwell 004 Cherwell
2 South Northamptonshire 011 South Northamptonshire
3 St Albans 016 St Albans
4 Welwyn Hatfield 005 Welwyn Hatfield
5 Cherwell 005 Cherwell

Forenames

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First names often paired with Skuce

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Skuce

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Skuce is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Skuce is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Skuce falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Skuce

The surname SKUCE is of English origin and can be traced back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "scucca," which means "demon" or "evil spirit." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone with a perceived unsavory or mischievous character.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SKUCE can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Stratford-upon-Avon, dating back to 1587. The record mentions a John Skuce, who was a local farmer in the area. Additionally, the Domesday Book, a historical survey conducted in 1086, includes references to various place names that may have influenced the evolution of the surname, such as "Skewes" and "Skewis."

In the 17th century, the SKUCE name appears to have been concentrated primarily in the counties of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, with some records indicating the presence of the surname in nearby regions as well. One notable individual from this period was William Skuce, born in 1645 in the village of Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire. He was a respected landowner and served as a local magistrate.

As the centuries progressed, the SKUCE surname spread across England, with some families migrating to other parts of the British Isles and even to the British colonies in North America and Australia. In the 19th century, a prominent figure bearing the name was Sir Henry Skuce (1801-1878), a successful businessman and philanthropist from London. He was instrumental in establishing several charitable institutions and was knighted for his contributions to society.

Another noteworthy individual was Elizabeth Skuce (1856-1932), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights. She founded one of the first schools for girls in the city of Manchester and played a significant role in the suffrage movement. Her efforts paved the way for greater educational opportunities for women in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The SKUCE surname also found its way into the realm of literature, with the author James Skuce (1879-1957) being a notable figure. He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and gained recognition for his novels and short stories that explored themes of rural life and the struggles of the working class.

While the origins of the SKUCE surname can be traced back to England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by families and individuals who have played their part in shaping the rich tapestry of history and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Skuce families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Skuce 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. Oxfordshire leads with 33 Skuces recorded in 1881 and an index of 74.06x.

County Total Index
Oxfordshire 33 74.06x
Warwickshire 18 9.89x
Middlesex 8 1.11x
Northamptonshire 7 10.31x
Gloucestershire 6 4.24x
Lancashire 2 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Duns Tew in Oxfordshire leads with 10 Skuces recorded in 1881 and an index of 12500.00x.

Place Total Index
Duns Tew 10 12500.00x
Bladon 9 6000.00x
Birmingham 8 13.19x
Croughton 7 4666.67x
Solihull 7 534.35x
Bethnal Green London 5 15.95x
Rangeworthy 5 8333.33x
Oxford St Giles 4 187.79x
Neithrop 3 200.00x
Wroxton 3 1875.00x
Everton 2 7.33x
Leamington 2 165.29x
Somerton 2 2500.00x
Bloxham 1 227.27x
Clifton 1 13.99x
Deddington 1 208.33x
Hackney London 1 2.47x
Kenilworth 1 97.09x
Mile End Old Town 1 8.78x
St George Hanover 1 10.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 5
Elizabeth 2
Emma 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Margaret 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Caraline 1
Catharine 1
Clara 1
Dinah 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Eveline 1
Harriett 1
Kezia 1
Mary 1
Maud 1
Minnie 1
Patience 1
Rosetta 1
Selina 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 5
Thomas 5
William 4
Alfred 2
Edward 2
George 2
Richard 2
Alek 1
Benjamin 1
Cecil 1
Collings 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Isaac 1
James 1
Joseph 1
Nathaniel 1
Walter 1

Top occupations

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 Skuce households.

FAQ

Skuce surname: questions and answers

How common was the Skuce surname in 1881?

In 1881, 74 people were recorded with the Skuce surname. That placed it at #23,062 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Skuce surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016. That gives Skuce a modern rank of #30,114.

What does the Skuce surname mean?

A Polish surname derived from a dialect word meaning "dense" or "thick".

What does the Skuce map show?

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