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![Show Contents]() Skerret History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Ireland
Both the Anglo-Norman invaders and the Irish had their own methodologies and customs for surnames. The Irish, in particular, had a system of hereditary surnames. Although the name Skerret is a form of the hereditary name, it is an occupational surname, a form more common to the Anglo-Normans. Occupational surnames were derived from a word describing the actual job done by the name bearer. Early Strongbownians often used the French prefix le, meaning the, but the convention quickly disappeared in Ireland. The surname came from a common occupational name for a house keeper or butler. The surname Skerret originally took the form Scared, which is an abbreviation of Huscared. This in turn is a corruption of Huscarle which means house care. Early Origins of the Skerret familyThe surname Skerret was first found in Devon, where they held a family seat after the Norman Conquest in 1066 A.D. They were conjecturally descended from Alfred le Breton, who was granted the lands by William the Conqueror, and was Lord of the manor of Petertavy in Devon. Early History of the Skerret familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Skerret research. Another 121 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1378, 1414, 1415, 1417, 1418, 1491, 1492, 1513, 1531, 1532, 1556, 1557, 1580, 1583, 1594, 1595, 1605, 1606, 1620, 1642 and 1688 are included under the topic Early Skerret History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Skerret Spelling VariationsDuring the lifetime of an individual person, his name was often spelt by church officials and medieval scribes the way it sounded. An examination of the many different origins of each name has revealed many spelling variations for the name: Skerritt, Skerratt, Skerrett, Skerit, Skeret, Scared, Scarrett, Scarrutt and many more. Early Notables of the Skerret familyNotable amongst the family up to this time was - Walter Skerrett, Provost of Galway (1414-1415) and (1417-1418)
- John Skerrett, 7th Mayor of Galway (1491-1492)
- James Skerrett, Mayor of Galway (1531-1532)
- William Skerrett, Mayor of Galway (1556-1557)
- Roland Skerrett, Mayor of Galway (1594-1595)
- John Skerrett fitz William, Mayor of Galway (1605-1606)
- Nicholas Skerrett (d. 1583), Archbishop of Tuam (1580-1583)
- James Skerrett (fl. 1513-1532), Mayor of Galway
- John Skerrett (c.1620-c.1688), Irish preacher and missionary who studied in Andalusia, ordained member of the Augustinian order
- John Skerrett, 7th Mayor of Galway, (1491 to 1492)
- The Most Reverend Nicholas Skerrett (died 1583), Roman Catholic clergyman, Archbishop of Tuam (1580 to 1583)
Migration of the Skerret familyIrish immigration to North American began in the late 18th century as many Irish families desired to own their own land. This pattern of immigration grew slowly yet steadily until the 1840s. At that time, a failed crop and a growing population in Ireland resulted in the Great Potato Famine. Poverty, disease, and starvation ravaged the land. To ease their pain and suffering the Irish often looked upon North America as a solution: hundreds of thousands undertook the voyage. Their arrival meant the growth of industry and commerce for British North America and the United States. For the individual Irishman, it meant survival and hope, and the opportunity for work, freedom, and ownership of land. The early immigration and passenger lists revealed many bearing the name Skerret: William Skerratt who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1868; Bartholomew Skerrett landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1856; Catharine, and Edward Skerritt and daughter Mary settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1849.
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