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

Skeens, 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 Skeens surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Skeens in America

Skeens is the 9033rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Skeens surname appeared 3,617 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Skeens.

We can also compare 2010 data for Skeens 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 Skeens

The surname Skeens is believed to have originated in Scotland, deriving from the Gaelic word "sgian," which means "knife" or "dagger." It is thought to have first emerged in the early medieval period, likely between the 11th and 13th centuries.

The name was initially concentrated in the Highlands and Islands regions of Scotland, particularly in areas like Argyll, Inverness-shire, and the Hebrides. It may have been used to denote individuals who were skilled in the crafting or use of knives or daggers, possibly referring to members of a clan or family involved in weapon-making or warfare.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the late 13th century, where a person named "Gillebride Schenné" is mentioned. This spelling variation suggests that the name may have been pronounced similarly to its modern form.

In the 16th century, a notable bearer of the name was John Skeens, a Scottish cleric who served as the Bishop of Dunkeld from 1557 to 1563. He played a significant role in the Scottish Reformation and was known for his support of Protestantism.

Another notable figure with the surname Skeens was Robert Skeens, a Scottish soldier and explorer who lived in the late 17th century. He is known for his travels and explorations in the Americas, particularly in the regions that would later become the American Southeast and the Caribbean.

During the 18th century, the Skeens name appeared in various parish records and documents across Scotland, indicating its continued presence and spread throughout the country. One example is James Skeens, a merchant from Glasgow who was born in 1712 and was involved in the transatlantic trade.

In the 19th century, the surname Skeens was also found in parts of England, particularly in counties like Lancashire and Yorkshire. This may have been due to migration and movement of Scottish families and individuals to these areas during the Industrial Revolution.

One notable bearer of the name from this period was William Skeens, a Scottish-born author and journalist who lived from 1820 to 1892. He wrote several books and articles on topics related to Scottish history and culture, contributing to the preservation of Scottish heritage and traditions.

As the centuries passed, the Skeens surname continued to spread and diversify, with bearers of the name found in various parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand. However, its roots and earliest recorded instances can be traced back to its Scottish origins and the Gaelic word "sgian."

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Skeens

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

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

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

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