Show ContentsSheath History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Sheath family

The surname Sheath was first found in Norfolk where the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was listed as Scet and Schett. [1] One of the first records of the name was Ricardus filius Schet who was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1166 in Norfolk. A few years later the Pipe Rolls of 1201 lists Walter Sket in Shropshire. [2] One reference claims the name traces its origin to an Old Norse byname Skjotr which literally meant "swift." [3] Another reference claims that it was a baptismal name as "the son of Sket." [4] Yet another reference claims that it is French in origin and is a variant of Keat or Keats. [5] We disagree with this latter reference. Whatever the origin, the name was concentrated in Norfolk in the early years "found frequently as Sket in Norfolk and neighbouring county of Suffolk in the Hundred Rolls." [4] Listings in the Hundred Rolls of 1273 include: Sketh [no personal name] in Norfolk; Alan Sket and Nicholas Sket in Suffolk; and John Sket in Norfolk.

Early History of the Sheath family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sheath research. Another 72 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1201, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Sheath History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sheath Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Skeat, Skeath, Skate, Skeet, Skeets, Skayte and many more.

Early Notables of the Sheath family

More information is included under the topic Early Sheath Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Sheath migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Sheath Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Sheath, who landed in Virginia in 1695 [6]

Australia Sheath migration to Australia +

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

Sheath Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Matt. Sheath, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Almorah" on April 1817, settling in New South Wales, Australia [7]

RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Frederick Sheath, aged 20, English Fireman/Stoker from London, England who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping on collapsible B [8]


  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  6. 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)
  7. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Almorah voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1817 with 180 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/almorah/1817
  8. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html


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