NameCensus.

UK surname

Skuse

An English surname derived from a Middle English word for "snail" or "sluggish person".

In the 1881 census there were 524 people recorded with the Skuse surname, ranking it #6,528 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,015, ranked #5,737, up from #6,528 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St Philip and Jacob and Thornbury, Rockhampton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sedgemoor and South Gloucestershire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Skuse is 1,049 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 93.7%.

1881 census count

524

Ranked #6,528

Modern count

1,015

2016, ranked #5,737

Peak year

2013

1,049 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Skuse had 524 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,528 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,015 in 2016, ranked #5,737.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 869 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Skuse surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Skuse surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Skuse 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 235 #9,206
1861 historical 166 #14,039
1881 historical 524 #6,528
1891 historical 519 #7,208
1901 historical 783 #5,742
1911 historical 869 #5,118
1997 modern 995 #5,525
1998 modern 1,024 #5,571
1999 modern 1,046 #5,504
2000 modern 1,042 #5,499
2001 modern 1,023 #5,485
2002 modern 1,019 #5,611
2003 modern 1,008 #5,558
2004 modern 1,013 #5,537
2005 modern 985 #5,616
2006 modern 972 #5,679
2007 modern 977 #5,713
2008 modern 970 #5,783
2009 modern 1,014 #5,700
2010 modern 1,013 #5,828
2011 modern 1,025 #5,706
2012 modern 1,027 #5,615
2013 modern 1,049 #5,610
2014 modern 1,042 #5,669
2015 modern 1,033 #5,664
2016 modern 1,015 #5,737

Geography

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Where Skuses are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St Philip and Jacob, Thornbury, Rockhampton, Winterbourne, Westerleigh, Pucklechurch, Frampton Cotterel and Charlton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sedgemoor and South Gloucestershire. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire
3 Thornbury, Rockhampton Gloucestershire
4 Winterbourne, Westerleigh, Pucklechurch, Frampton Cotterel Gloucestershire
5 Charlton Wiltshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sedgemoor 005 Sedgemoor
2 South Gloucestershire 014 South Gloucestershire
3 South Gloucestershire 016 South Gloucestershire
4 South Gloucestershire 028 South Gloucestershire
5 South Gloucestershire 030 South Gloucestershire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Skuse

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Skuse

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

Skuse 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

Skuse falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Skuse

The surname SKUSE is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name derived from the Old English words "scucca" or "scuccia," meaning a wood or thicket.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Scuccia" in reference to a place name in Kent. This suggests that the name was already established in England by the time of the Norman conquest.

During the Middle Ages, the name SKUSE was predominantly found in the southern counties of England, particularly in Kent, Surrey, and Sussex. It is believed that the name may have originated in one of the villages or settlements in these regions that were once surrounded by dense woodlands or thickets.

In the 14th century, a man named John Skuse was recorded as a landowner in the village of Wrotham, Kent. This is one of the earliest known individuals to bear the surname.

Another notable figure from history was Sir Edward Skuse, who lived in the late 16th century and served as a member of Parliament for the borough of Southwark during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, the SKUSE name appears in various parish records across southern England, including the baptismal records of a Thomas Skuse in Croydon, Surrey, in 1632.

During the 18th century, a prominent individual named William Skuse (1720-1795) was a successful merchant and landowner in the town of Tonbridge, Kent. He is remembered for his philanthropy and his contributions to the local community.

Another noteworthy figure was John Skuse (1772-1847), a renowned architect who designed several churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas during the early 19th century.

Throughout its history, the SKUSE surname has been subject to various spelling variations, including Skuse, Skuce, Skoose, and Scuse, reflecting the evolving nature of language and regional dialects over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Skuse families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Skuse 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. Gloucestershire leads with 219 Skuses recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.85x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 219 21.85x
Middlesex 77 1.51x
Wiltshire 69 15.26x
Somerset 41 4.98x
Monmouthshire 28 7.58x
Surrey 27 1.08x
Yorkshire 16 0.32x
Hampshire 7 0.67x
Lancashire 7 0.12x
Staffordshire 7 0.41x
Oxfordshire 6 1.90x
Berkshire 4 1.04x
Royal Navy 3 4.93x
Sussex 3 0.35x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.65x
Dorset 2 0.60x
Essex 2 0.20x
Hertfordshire 2 0.57x
Cheshire 1 0.09x
Warwickshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St Philip Jacob in Gloucestershire leads with 37 Skuses recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.20x.

Place Total Index
Bristol St Philip Jacob 37 39.20x
Mangotsfield 31 310.31x
Stapleton 25 131.44x
Winterbourne 21 379.06x
Bristol St George 20 43.13x
St Pancras London 19 4.62x
Lambeth 17 3.81x
Bristol St James St Paul 14 41.88x
Horfield 14 138.75x
Twerton 14 165.09x
St Woollos 12 29.10x
Cirencester 11 81.06x
Mile End Old Town 11 13.63x
Tytherington 11 1410.26x
Leigh 10 1923.08x
Paddington London 10 5.32x
Castleford 9 48.78x
Purton 9 223.88x
Hillingdon 8 49.08x
Melksham 8 101.91x
Olveston 8 283.69x
Dunkerton 7 393.26x
Keynsham 7 118.44x
Minety 7 555.56x
Shoreditch London 7 3.16x
Garsdon 6 1875.00x
Harborne 6 10.85x
Walcot 6 13.69x
West Derby 6 3.38x
Bethnal Green London 5 2.25x
Bloxham 5 161.29x
Bristol St Michael 5 58.21x
Charlton 5 378.79x
Corsham 5 75.76x
Llandegreth 5 3571.43x
Magor 5 649.35x
Lea Cleverton 4 493.83x
Llanover 4 31.70x
Portsmouth 4 16.58x
Swindon 4 11.41x
Swinton In Rotherham 4 29.87x
Alveston 3 211.27x
Bedminster 3 3.88x
Bitton Oldland 3 29.27x
Brighton 3 1.73x
Chelsea London 3 1.95x
Ealing 3 6.57x
Hampstead London 3 3.77x
Kensington London 3 1.06x
Lyncombe Widcombe 3 13.93x
Reading St Mary 3 9.76x
Rodbourne Cheney 3 85.96x
Royal Navy 3 5.76x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 2.92x
St Mary Le Strand 3 184.05x
Stoke 3 25.53x
Thornbury 3 43.80x
Westerleigh 3 133.33x
Whitwood 3 41.72x
Abergavenny 2 14.45x
Braintree 2 22.08x
Chippenham 2 21.10x
Cliffe Pypard 2 147.06x
Guildford Holy Trinity 2 42.11x
Langley Marish 2 52.77x
Portsea 2 0.97x
Slimbridge 2 134.23x
Westbury On Trym 2 5.89x
Wickwar 2 124.22x
Wootton Bassett 2 50.89x
Bere Regis 1 44.44x
Cheltenham 1 1.29x
Egham 1 6.54x
Fairford 1 37.31x
Isleworth 1 4.40x
Islington London 1 0.20x
Solihull 1 10.79x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 0.55x
Wellow 1 41.32x
Yatton Keynell 1 108.70x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 37
Sarah 19
Elizabeth 18
Emma 11
Jane 9
Annie 8
Alice 7
Ann 6
Caroline 6
Edith 6
Emily 6
Hannah 6
Eliza 5
Martha 5
Ellen 4
Fanny 4
Florence 4
Harriet 4
Louisa 4
Ruth 4
Amelia 3
Anne 3
Clara 3
Harriett 3
Kate 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Rebecca 3
Rose 3
Ada 2
Anna 2
Betsy 2
Charlotte 2
Eleanor 2
Elizth. 2
Laura 2
Lucy 2
Matilda 2
Rosina 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Amy 1
Blanch 1
Blanche 1
Ethel 1
Lavinia 1
Leah 1
Lillie 1
Louise 1
Virtue 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 32
William 25
John 19
James 18
Charles 17
Henry 15
Thomas 14
Frederick 11
Albert 8
Alfred 8
Samuel 8
Joseph 6
Daniel 5
Ernest 5
Edward 3
Peter 3
Robert 3
Tom 3
Walter 3
Abraham 2
Arthur 2
Fredrick 2
Geo. 2
Isaac 2
Mark 2
Mary 2
Silvester 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Arthure 1
Cornelius 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
Gilbert 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Infant 1
Merrice 1
Moses 1
Nathaniel 1
Nathl. 1
Richard 1
Richd. 1
Sarah 1
Sidney 1
Simon 1
Zacharih 1

FAQ

Skuse surname: questions and answers

How common was the Skuse surname in 1881?

In 1881, 524 people were recorded with the Skuse surname. That placed it at #6,528 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Skuse surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,015 in 2016. That gives Skuse a modern rank of #5,737.

What does the Skuse surname mean?

An English surname derived from a Middle English word for "snail" or "sluggish person".

What does the Skuse map show?

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