Show ContentsSkasbrish History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Of all the Anglo-Saxon names to come from Britain, Skasbrish is one of the most ancient. The name is a result of the original family having lived in the county of Yorkshire, where they held the manor of Scarborough. This place-name was originally derived from the Old English Skaroisburg, which was brought into England during the Norman Conquest of 1066.

Early Origins of the Skasbrish family

The surname Skasbrish was first found in North Riding of Yorkshire at Scarborough, a borough, markettown, and parish. 1

"The origin of this town has not been satisfactorily ascertained: it is supposed to have derived its name from the Saxon Scear, a rock, and Burgh, a fortified place. The earliest authentic record of it is a charter of Henry II., conferring certain privileges on the inhabitants; and in the reign of Henry III., a charter was granted for making a new pier at Scardeburgh, as the place was then called." 2

Some of the family were found further north in Scotland in early years too. "Nicholas de Scardbrow witnessed charters by Willelmus de Hawoc, burgess of Perth, c. 1245 and Roger de Scardtheburge was clericus domini regis, c. 1272. Robert de Scardeburgh was parson of the church of Conington in 1295. " 3 But this latter source notes that the name was indeed from Yorkshire.

Sir Robert de Scorburgh (d. 1340), was Baron of the Exchequer and "derived his name from Scorborough in the East Riding of Yorkshire. He is no doubt the Robert de Scorburgh of Beverley to whom there are some references in 1320 to 1322. At his death he is described as possessing the manor of Scoreby, together with property in Stamford Bridge and Etton. " 4

Early History of the Skasbrish family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Skasbrish research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1584, 1615, 1616, 1617, 1635, 1642, 1645, 1646, 1671, 1693 and 1694 are included under the topic Early Skasbrish History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Skasbrish Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Skasbrish has been spelled many different ways, including Scarbrough, Scarboro, Scarborough, Scasbridge, Scarbrow, Scarburg, Scarburgh, Scarsbridge and many more.

Early Notables of the Skasbrish family

Notables of the family at this time include Sir Charles Scarborough MP FRS FRCP (1615-1693), an English physician and mathematician; Captain Edmund Scarborough (1584-1635), English barrister and graduate of Caius College; and his son, Colonel Edmund Scarborough (1617-1671) English-born, early American...
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Skasbrish Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Skasbrish family

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Skasbrishs to arrive in North America: Hannah Scarborough who settled in Virginia with her husband Mathew in 1635; Thomas Scarbourgh settled in Virginia in 1639; Richard Scarbrow settled in Virginia in 1656.



  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. 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)
  4. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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