Find out how popular the last name Skoug is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Skoug.
A Scandinavian surname believed to be derived from words meaning "woods" or "forest".
Skoug, 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 Skoug surname is from the 2010 census data.
Skoug is the 98099th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Skoug surname appeared 185 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 Skoug.
We can also compare 2010 data for Skoug 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.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | 98099 | 93006 | 5.33% |
| Count | 185 | 183 | 1.09% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.06 | 0.07 | -15.38% |
The surname Skoug has its origins in Scandinavia, particularly in Norway and Sweden. It is believed to have derived from the Old Norse word "skogr," which means "forest" or "wooded area." This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived near or in a forested region.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Skoug can be found in the Danish Census of 1787, where it appears as "Skoug." This spelling variation likely arose due to the influence of the Danish language on the name's pronunciation and written form.
In Sweden, the name Skoug is closely tied to the region of Värmland, where it has been present for several centuries. Historical records from the 16th and 17th centuries indicate that individuals with the surname Skoug were landowners and farmers in this area, possibly reflecting the name's connection to the region's forested landscapes.
Notable individuals bearing the surname Skoug include Johan Skoug (1773-1845), a Swedish industrialist and founder of the Skoug Ironworks in Värmland. Another prominent figure was Nils Skoug (1840-1914), a Norwegian engineer and inventor who played a significant role in the development of hydroelectric power plants in Norway.
In the literary realm, the Swedish author and playwright Sten Skoug (1907-1963) gained recognition for his works, including the novel "Den siste Guldgräven" (The Last Gold Digger) and the play "Hustru för en dag" (Wife for a Day).
The name Skoug has also been associated with various place names in Scandinavia. For example, the village of Skoug in Norway's Buskerud county likely derives its name from the surname, indicating a historical connection between the name and the local geography.
Throughout history, individuals with the surname Skoug have made contributions in fields such as industry, engineering, literature, and more. Some other notable figures include the Swedish painter and illustrator Per Skoug (1861-1937), the Norwegian politician and editor Rasmus Skoug (1854-1935), and the Swedish architect and urban planner Sven Skoug (1896-1983).
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Skoug.
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:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Skoug was:
| Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic White Only | 100.00% | 185 |
| Non-Hispanic Black Only | 0.00% | 0 |
| Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | 0.00% | 0 |
| Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.00% | 0 |
| Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | 0.00% | 0 |
| Hispanic Origin | 0.00% | 0 |
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 Skoug has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 100.00% | 97.81% | 2.21% |
| Black | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Asian and Pacific Islander | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Two or More Races | 0.00% | (S)% | (S)% |
| Hispanic | 0.00% | (S)% | (S)% |
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 Skoug was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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<a href="http://namecensus.com/last-names/skoug-surname-popularity/">Skoug last name popularity, history, and meaning</a>
"Skoug last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 25, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/skoug-surname-popularity/.
"Skoug last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/skoug-surname-popularity/. Accessed 25 December, 2025
Skoug last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/skoug-surname-popularity/.
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