Contents [hide]

Skelton History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Skelton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Early Origins of the Skelton family

The surname Skelton was first found in Cumberland, at Skelton, a parish in the union of Penrith. There are no fewer that five villages or parishes so named throughout northern Britain. None have derived their name from the rather obvious use of the term "skeleton" today. Rather each literally meant "farmstead on a shelf or ledge," from the Viking word "scelf" + "tun." 1 Furthermore, many of the villages or parishes date back to the Domesday Book or shortly after: Scheltun, Cleveland (1086); Shelton, Cumbria (c. 1160); Schilton, Humber (1086); Schelton, North Yorkshire (1086); and Scelton, North Yorkshire (12 century.) 1 "The Skeltons of Cumberland date back to temp. Edward I." 2

By the 11th century the family had acquired Armathwaite Castle in Cumberland, and later branched to Branthwaite and High House in that shire. "Armathwaite Castle [in Cumberland], a handsome modern edifice, built on the site of an ancient fortress, occupies a rocky elevation, at the foot of which flows the Eden; in the reign of Henry VIII. it was, with the estate, the property of John Skelton (c. 1463-1529), the poet-laureat. The chapel was rebuilt by Richard Skelton in 1668, having for some time previously been used as a shed for cattle." 3

Another source claims the family was from Lincolnshire as "one of the first ministers of Salem, Massachusetts, Samuel Skelton, was a nonconforming minister of Lincolnshire." 4 We respectfully disagree with this latter source's claim as the lion's share of early records were from further north and this entry was from some four hundred years after the first entries.

The first record of the family was John de Skelton who was listed in the Early Yorkshire Charters (c. 1160-1193) Another John de Skelton was listed in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1286. 5 Almost one hundred years later, Willelmus de Skelton and Thomas de Skelton were listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. 6

The Skeldon variant is an interesting one. Apart from the obvious phonetic similarity, some sources merge the entries and others do not. Reaney and Wilson claim one of the first entries for this variant was John Skeldyng who was listed in the Register of Freemen of York in 1463. And in this case, the family originated in Skelding, a township in the parish of Ripon in the West Riding of Yorkshire. 5 All of the Skelding entries that we could find were some two hundred years after the first Skelton entries, so we presume that the Skelding variant is of later stock, particularly as this name too originates in the Yorkshire, Cumberland area of Britain.

As one would expect, the close proximity to Scotland could encourage some of the family to migrate there. Archibald Skeldin, was burgess of Edinburgh, 1569 and the family may have originated Skeldoun in Kyle-Regis. "It may otherwise be from Skeldon in Yorkshire or from Skeldon in Northumberland." 7

Early History of the Skelton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Skelton research. Another 111 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1379, 1460, 1512, 1529, 1617, 1632, 1641, 1672, 1674, 1691, 1696 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Skelton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Skelton Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Skelton, Skeldon and others.

Early Notables of the Skelton family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

John Skelton, also known as John Shelton (c.1460-1529), probably born in Diss, Norfolk, an English poet
John Skelton, High Sheriff of Cumberland in 1512

Skelton World Ranking

In the United States, the name Skelton is the 2,293^rd most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 8 However, in New Zealand, the name Skelton is ranked the 722^nd most popular surname with an estimated 990 people with that name. 9 And in the United Kingdom, the name Skelton is the 980^th popular surname with an estimated 7,123 people with that name. 10

Migration of the Skelton family to Ireland

Some of the Skelton family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 91 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Skelton migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Skelton Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Rev. Samuel Skelton, who settled in Salem Massachusetts with Susannah in 1629 aboard the ship "George Bonaventure"
Benjamin Skelton, who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1639 11
Nathaniel Skelton, who landed in Salem, Massachusetts in 1648 11
Richard Skelton, who arrived in Maryland in 1665 11
Robert Skelton, who settled in Virginia in 1670

Skelton Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Thomas Skelton, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1716 11

Skelton Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mr. Skelton, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 11
Henry Skelton, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1867 11
William Skelton, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1878 11
Frank Skelton, who landed in Hancock County, Miss in 1888 11

Skelton migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Skelton Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Thomas, Anne, and John Skelton who, who arrived in Fort Cumberland Nova Scotia in 1774
Ann Skelton, aged 18, who landed in Fort Cumberland, Nova Scotia in 1774
John Skelton, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1774
John Skelton, aged 38, who landed in Fort Cumberland, Nova Scotia in 1775
Jane Skelton, aged 36, who landed in Fort Cumberland, Nova Scotia in 1775
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Skelton migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Skelton Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. Henry Skelton, Cornish settler convicted in Launceston, Cornwall, UK on 23rd March 1789, sentenced for 7 years for burglary and housebreaking from Robert Hoblyn, transported aboard the ship "Atlantic" on 27th March 1791 to New South Wales, Australia 12

Skelton Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Jacob Skelton, English convict from Gloucester, who was transported aboard the "Adamant" on March 16, 1821, settling in New South Wales, Australia 13
John Skelton, English convict from Gloucester, who was transported aboard the "Adamant" on March 16, 1821, settling in New South Wales, Australia 13
Mr. William Skelton, (Shilton), (b. 1804), aged 26, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Clyde" on 20th August 1830, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 14
Mr. James Skelton who was convicted in Derby, Derbyshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Camden" on 21st March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
John Skelton, English convict from Lancaster, who was transported aboard the "Agincourt" on July 6, 1844, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 16
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Skelton migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Skelton Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

John Skelton, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1836
William Skelton, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841 aboard the ship Lady Nugent
Thomas Skelton, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alma" in 1857
Miss Jane Skelton, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Maori" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 3rd November 1859 17
William Skelton, aged 28, a labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Maori" in 1864
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Skelton migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 18

Skelton Settlers in West Indies in the 18th Century

Ralph Skelton, who arrived in Jamaica in 1775

Contemporary Notables of the name Skelton (post 1700) +

Richard Bernard "Red" Skelton (1913-1997), American comedian, top radio and television star from 1937 to 1971, eponym of the Red Skelton Bridge and the Red Skelton Performing Arts Center, he received an Lifetime Achievement Award from the Screen Actors Guild in 1987
Isaac Newton "Ike" Skelton IV (1931-2013), American politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1977-2011)
Charles Skelton (1806-1879), American Democratic Party politician
L. L. Skelton, American politician, Member of Tennessee State House of Representatives, 1885-86 19
Karen E. Skelton, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 2008 19
John Hamilton Skelton (d. 1893), American politician, Mayor of Hartwell; Member of Georgia State House of Representatives, 1888-89 19
John Boone Skelton, American Democratic Party politician, Chair of Lafayette County Democratic Party, 1967 19
J. H. Skelton, American politician, Member of Georgia State Senate 31st District, 1902-03 19
Harold Newell Skelton, American Republican politician, Mayor of Lewiston, Maine, 1930-31; Delegate to Republican National Convention from Maine, 1940 19
Charles Skelton (1806-1879), American Democratic Party politician, U.S. Representative from New Jersey 2nd District, 1851-55 19
... (Another 22 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Skelton family +

RMS Lusitania

Mr. Frederick Skelton, Canadian 3rd Class passenger from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 20

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_convicts.pdf
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Adamant voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1821 with 144 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/adamant/1821
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/clyde
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/camden
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 24) Agincourt voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1844 with 226 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/agincourt/1844
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 27) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/