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

Skillin, 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 Skillin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Skillin in America

Skillin is the 44423rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Skillin surname appeared 484 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 Skillin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Skillin 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 Skillin

The surname Skillin is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period. The name is believed to have derived from the old English word "scylling," which referred to a shilling or a small coin. It is likely that the name was originally an occupational surname given to a minter, money changer, or someone involved in coining or handling money.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a person named Roger Skyling is mentioned. This suggests that variations of the name were already in use by the late 12th century. Other early spellings include Skilling, Skillyng, and Skyllynge.

In the 13th century, records show a Robert Skilling residing in Oxfordshire, while a John Skillyng was documented in Huntingdonshire in 1273. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also mention a Richard Skyling in Oxfordshire, indicating the widespread use of the name across various counties during that time.

The surname Skillin has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded was William Skillin, born in 1585 in Somerset, England, who later immigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the early 17th century. Another early figure was John Skillin, born in 1620 in Falmouth, Maine, who played a significant role in the settlement and development of that area.

In the 18th century, Samuel Skillin, born in 1724 in Falmouth, Maine, was a prominent merchant and shipbuilder, contributing to the local economy. Later, in the 19th century, Thomas Skillin, born in 1837 in Maine, served as a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War, participating in several major battles.

One of the most notable individuals with the surname Skillin was John Skillin, born in 1838 in Maine, who became a successful businessman and philanthropist. He co-founded the Skillin's Grain and Milling Company and made significant contributions to educational institutions and charities in his home state.

While the surname Skillin has its origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and immigration. However, its historical roots and connection to the old English word "scylling" remain an integral part of its etymology and significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Skillin

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

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

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

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