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

Skillman, 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 Skillman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Skillman in America

Skillman is the 12083rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Skillman surname appeared 2,579 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 Skillman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Skillman 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 Skillman

The surname Skillman is believed to have originated in England, deriving from the Old English words "scill" meaning skill or ability, and "man" meaning man or person. It likely first emerged in the medieval period to describe someone who possessed a particular skill or trade.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Skillman surname dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Scilleman" in the county of Essex. This suggests the name had already established itself in England by the late 11th century.

Over time, the surname evolved with various spellings such as Skilman, Skillman, and Skillman. These variations often reflected regional dialects and the preferences of individual record keepers or families.

Skillman was also used as a locational surname, referring to individuals who hailed from places like Skillington in Lincolnshire or Skelmanth in Cumberland. The name's association with specific locations may have contributed to its spread and adoption by different families.

One notable bearer of the Skillman name was John Skillman (1592-1671), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Upminster in Essex. His works included a book titled "The Parable of the Pilgrim" published in 1663.

Another Skillman of historical significance was Thomas Skillman (1718-1784), a Quaker preacher and abolitionist from Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He was an outspoken critic of slavery and played a role in the early anti-slavery movement in the American colonies.

In the 19th century, Isaac Skillman (1819-1897), a farmer from New Jersey, became a prominent figure in the Underground Railroad, providing shelter and assistance to escaped enslaved people on their journey to freedom.

Mary Skillman (1838-1914), born in New York, was a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights. She founded the Skillman Institute, one of the first schools in the United States to offer higher education to women.

Lastly, William Skillman (1858-1936), a businessman from New York, made significant contributions to the development of the automobile industry. He founded the Skillman Motor Company, which produced early gasoline-powered vehicles in the early 20th century.

While the Skillman surname has its roots in England, it has since spread across various parts of the world, particularly in countries with strong British colonial ties or immigration patterns.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Skillman

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

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

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

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