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

Skeels, 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 Skeels surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Skeels in America

Skeels is the 24648th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Skeels surname appeared 1,013 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Skeels.

We can also compare 2010 data for Skeels to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Skeels

The surname Skeels has its origins in England, where it first emerged in the early medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "scield," which means "shield" or "protector." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who was a shield-bearer or a warrior known for their defensive skills.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Skeels can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Skeles" in the records for Lincolnshire and Norfolk, indicating that it was already in use by the late 11th century.

In the centuries that followed, the name Skeels evolved and appeared in various spellings, such as Skeles, Skeyles, and Skeals. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time. The name was also associated with certain place names, particularly in the counties of Lincolnshire and Norfolk, where it originated.

One notable bearer of the Skeels surname was Sir John Skeels, a prominent English landowner and politician who lived in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He served as a Member of Parliament for Lincolnshire and held significant estates in the region.

Another historical figure with the Skeels name was William Skeels, a sailor and explorer who participated in several voyages to the Americas in the late 16th century. He was part of the crew of Sir Francis Drake's famous circumnavigation of the globe between 1577 and 1580.

In the 17th century, the Skeels family established a presence in the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded settlers was John Skeels, who arrived in Virginia in 1635. His descendants went on to play important roles in the development of various regions across the United States.

Another notable bearer of the Skeels name was Robert Skeels, a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. He commanded several ships and was involved in several battles against the American colonists.

In the 19th century, the Skeels surname became more widespread, with families bearing this name found across various parts of England, as well as in the United States, Canada, and other English-speaking countries. One prominent individual from this period was Charles Skeels, an English poet and writer who published several collections of poems and literary works in the late 1800s.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Skeels

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

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 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Skeels 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Skeels has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Skeels was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!