| ![Show Contents]() Skill History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The distinguished Skill family, which is intricately woven into the intricate tapestry of Scottish history, probably finds its origin with the proud Norman people. However, Gille or Gillebert (fl. 1105-1145), Bishop of Limerick, "termed by Keating Giolla Easbog, was consecrated in Ireland, but it is uncertain whether he was an Irishman or a Dane, Limerick being then a Danish city. " 1 How this very early entry fits into the history of the family is uncertain, but we include in as a point of reference. Early Origins of the Skill familyThe surname Skill was first found in Yorkshire, where the Domesday Book of 1086 listed Ghille, Ghile, Ghil. 2 Gamel filius Gille was a Knights Templar in Yorkshire in 1185. Johannes films Gille was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Yorkshire in 1297. 3 Some of the family were also found in Lincolnshire where Henricus filius Gllli, Gille was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1200. Two years later, Ralph, Robert Gille was listed in the Assize Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1202. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed: Richard filius Gille, Cambridgeshire; Gille Hulle, Cambridgeshire; and Roger Gille, Oxfordshire. 4 Henry Gille moved the family name to Cumberland in 1200 and the family gave its name to the village of Gilsland, a watering-place, in the parish of Lanercost-Abbey, Eskdale ward, E. division of Cumberland. 5 And it is this branch of the family that we will now focus. "A tradition held by members of the Aberdeen [Scotland] family of this name is that they came originally from Cumberland, where at an early period they owned lands, among others the barony of Gillsland. Gilsland, one of three original baronies in Cumberland, is spelled Gillesland in 1240, and may have been the possession of one Gilli or Gille. Gilli is an old West Scandinavian personal name, borrowed at an earlier period directly from OG. gilla, 'a servant,' or from a pet form of one of the numerous Gaelic names in Gilla-, as Gillebride, Gillechrist, etc. The abbreviated form was not used by Gaels as a proper name, but such usage originated among the Vikings in the West. The surname is of great antiquity on both sides of the Border. Gille filius Boed was one of the witnesses to Earl David's Inquisitio concerning the lands of the church of Glasgow, a. 1124. This Gille son of Boed or Boet stands on a pedestal unique, perhaps in Scottish history, as the last Scottish chieftain to hold sway in England against the power of the Norman." 6 Indeed the lion's share of the family claim Scotland as their homeland. Early History of the Skill familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Skill research. Another 202 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1241, 1296, 1328, 1330, 1333, 1366, 1369, 1389, 1460, 1564, 1565, 1583, 1586, 1589, 1597, 1635, 1642, 1658, 1659, 1690, 1697, 1771 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Skill History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Skill Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Gill, Gille, Gills, Gilles, Gyll, Gylls and others. Early Notables of the Skill familyNotable among the family at this time was Alexander Gill the Elder (1565-1635), High-Master of St. Paul's School, born in Lincolnshire 7 Feb. 1564, was admitted scholar of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, in September 1583, and proceeded B.A. 1586...
Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Skill Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Skill family to Ireland
Some of the Skill family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Skill migration to the United States | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Skill Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- William Skill, who arrived in Virginia in 1665 7
Skill Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Beatrice Skill, aged 22, who immigrated to the United States, in 1894
Skill Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Mary Skill, aged 32, who settled in America, in 1912
- William Skill, aged 22, who immigrated to the United States from Holyhead, Wales, in 1912
- Margaret Skill, aged 39, who settled in America from Davonport, England, in 1920
- Caroline Skill, who landed in America, in 1922
- Marvin Skill, aged 22, who immigrated to the United States, in 1923
| Skill migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Skill Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century- Margaret Skill, aged 38, who immigrated to Halifax, Canada, in 1919
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: In te Domine spes nostra
Motto Translation: Our hope is in thee, O Lord
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
- 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)
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- 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)
- 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)
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Skill migration to the United States 
Skill migration to Canada 
Scotland
Ireland
England
