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

Skyes, 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 Skyes surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Skyes in America

Skyes is the 139228th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Skyes surname appeared 120 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 Skyes.

We can also compare 2010 data for Skyes 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 Skyes

The surname Skyes originates from Scotland, dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old Norse word "skog," meaning "wood" or "forest," and is thought to have been initially a topographic name, referring to someone who lived near or in a wooded area.

In early records, the name appears with various spellings, including Skey, Skay, Skea, and Skye. One of the earliest known mentions of the name is found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1264, where it is recorded as "Roger de Skey."

The Isle of Skye, located off the northwest coast of Scotland, is believed to have contributed to the widespread use of the name in the region. Many families bearing the Skyes surname likely originated from or had ties to this island, which was historically part of the Kingdom of the Isles.

In the 16th century, the Skyes name appears in the records of the Clan Donald, a powerful Scottish clan with strong connections to the Isle of Skye. Notable individuals from this period include John Skyes, a member of the clan who was recorded in 1567.

One of the earliest documented instances of the Skyes surname can be found in the parish records of Halkirk, Caithness, where a John Skyes is listed as a witness in 1635.

Other notable individuals with the Skyes surname include:

1. Archibald Skyes (1675-1741), a Scottish minister and religious writer.
2. Sir James Skyes (1719-1788), a British naval officer and explorer who served in the Royal Navy.
3. Thomas Skyes (1773-1845), a Scottish minister and author known for his writings on the history of Scotland.
4. Mary Skyes (1822-1890), a Scottish novelist and poet who wrote under the pen name "Violet Fane."
5. Sir John Skyes (1857-1932), a British diplomat and colonial administrator who served as Governor of Bombay from 1907 to 1913.

The Skyes surname has a rich history rooted in the rugged landscapes and cultural traditions of Scotland, particularly in the Hebrides and the Isle of Skye itself.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Skyes

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

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

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

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