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

Skov, 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 Skov surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Skov in America

Skov is the 41359th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Skov surname appeared 526 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 Skov.

We can also compare 2010 data for Skov 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 Skov

The surname SKOV originated in Denmark during the Middle Ages, deriving from the Old Norse word "skógr" meaning "forest" or "woods." This name was likely given to someone who lived near or worked in a forested area.

The earliest recorded instances of the name SKOV can be traced back to the 13th century in Danish parish records. In 1268, a landowner named Niels Skov was mentioned in a deed from the village of Vorbasse on the Jutland peninsula. This suggests the name was already established by that time.

During the 14th century, variations of the spelling appeared, such as "Skow" and "Skough." These were likely regional dialect differences or attempts by scribes to capture the pronunciation phonetically. In 1372, a merchant named Oluf Skough is listed in a trade registry from the city of Ribe.

The name SKOV can be found in the Danish Census Book of 1676, indicating its continued use over several centuries. Notable people from this record include Hans Skov, a farmer from Århus, and Bodil Skov, a widow residing in Copenhagen.

One of the earliest known bearers of the SKOV name was Niels Skov (c.1420-1492), a Danish priest and scholar who wrote extensively on church law and theology. His works were influential during the Protestant Reformation.

Another historically significant figure was Admiral Peder Skov (1560-1631), a naval commander who led Danish fleets in battles against Sweden during the Kalmar War. He was knighted for his service.

In the 18th century, poet and playwright Jens Skov (1738-1785) gained renown for his satirical works criticizing Danish society and politics. His plays were popular during the Danish Golden Age of literature.

The 19th century saw the rise of industrialist Hans Skov (1817-1892), who founded one of Denmark's earliest steel mills. His company played a major role in modernizing Danish manufacturing.

Throughout its long history, the surname SKOV has been borne by many notable Danes across various fields, from clergy and military figures to writers and entrepreneurs. Its origins are firmly rooted in the nation's linguistic and geographic heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Skov

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

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

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

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