Find out how popular the last name Skall is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Skall.

Skall, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Skall surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Skall in America

Skall is the 143847th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Skall surname appeared 106 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Skall.

The history of the last name Skall

The surname Skall likely has its origins in Scandinavia, particularly in Denmark or Sweden, around the late medieval period, approximately the 12th to 15th centuries. The name is believed to be derived from the Old Norse word "skall," meaning "bald" or "bare," a descriptor that might have initially been used to denote someone with a bald head or a significant lack of hair. In the context of Scandinavian history, the term "Skall" could also refer to a person who lived in a barren or exposed place, highlighting their geographical and environmental context.

The name Skall first appeared in written records in 13th century Denmark. One of the earliest surviving references is found in a Danish land document from 1283, where a certain Lars Skall is mentioned as a landholder in Jutland. This indicates that the surname was already in use and attached to established families by this period. Such documents often served to demarcate land transactions, grants, or lineage, pointing to the Skall family’s social standing and property.

The transition of the name into various spellings over the centuries is also documented. In the 14th century, records from a Swedish monastery refer to a freeman named Einar Skalle, demonstrating a slight variation in spelling while retaining the same phonetic roots. This reflects the variations in dialect and script that were common in medieval Scandinavia.

The Skall surname has appeared in several prominent historical references beyond land records. For instance, Alva Skall, a noted ship captain born in 1580 in Malmö, Sweden, is mentioned in maritime logs and local history books for her role in Baltic Sea trade routes. Her contributions to early-modern Scandinavian commerce were significant, with her death recorded in 1625.

Another historical individual bearing the surname was Hans Skall, a 17th-century Danish poet whose works are considered valuable in the study of Scandinavian literature. Hans Skall’s poetry, written around 1660, captured the cultural essence and day-to-day life of Denmark, providing modern readers with insights into the era. His works were collected posthumously and published, contributing to the literary heritage of Denmark.

Moving into the 18th century, the family name appears again in the military annals of the Swedish Empire. Colonel Anders Skall, born in 1705, served in the Swedish army and was noted for his role in the Great Northern War, a conflict that significantly shaped the region's history. His military strategies and leadership earned him a distinguished reputation until his death in 1760.

In the 19th century, the name appears with Kristian Skall, an Icelandic scholar and linguist born in 1823. His contributions to Icelandic language preservation and studies on Norse mythology were substantial, with many of his academic works still referenced today. He passed away in 1891, leaving behind a legacy in the academic community.

The surname Skall has continuously evolved, echoed in various records throughout centuries, attaching to different professions, ranging from landowners and poets to military personnel and scholars. These historical appearances, spanning different centuries, emphasize the name's enduring legacy in Scandinavian heritage and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Skall

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Skall.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Skall was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Skall was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Skall, please contact us.

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