| ![Show Contents]() Skerrett 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 Skerrett 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 Skerrett 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 Skerrett familyThe surname Skerrett 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 Skerrett familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Skerrett 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 Skerrett History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Skerrett 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 Skerrett 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)
 Skerrett migration to the United States | + |
Irish 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 Skerrett:
Skerrett Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Bartholomew Skerrett, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1856
| Skerrett migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Skerrett Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century- Mr. Walter Skerrett, aged 2 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Emigrant" departing 11th August 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 3rd October 1847 but he died on board 1
| Skerrett migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Skerrett Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Mr. Charles Blake Skerrett, (b. 1816), aged 20, English convict who was convicted in London, England for life for theft, transported aboard the "Elphinstone" on 20th January 1836, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1893 2
- Mr. Edward Skerrett, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Elphinstone" on 28th July 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 3
| Skerrett 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: Skerrett Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- Peter Skerrett, aged 28, a labourer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Hannibal" in 1875
- Margaret Skerrett, aged 28, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Hannibal" in 1875
- Sarah Skerrett, aged 10, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Hannibal" in 1875
- Mary Skerrett, aged 8, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Hannibal" in 1875
- Julia Skerrett, aged 4, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Hannibal" in 1875
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Contemporary Notables of the name Skerrett (post 1700) | + |
- Joseph T. Skerrett (1943-2015), American literary critic and professor of English at the University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Rear Admiral Joseph Salathiel Skerrett (1833-1897), American officer in the United States Navy, participant in the African Slave Trade Patrol, known as the best navigator in the U.S. Navy
- Mark N. Skerrett, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Massachusetts State House of Representatives Eighteenth Worcester District, 1905; Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Massachusetts, 1916 4
- The Most Reverend Michael Skerrett (d. 1785), Irish clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church, Bishop of Killala in 1749, Archbishop of Tuam (1749-1785)
- Trevor Skerrett (1953-1970), English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 1980s
- Kelvin Skerrett (b. 1966), British former professional rugby league player
- Sir Charles Skerrett KCMG, KC (1863-1929), India-born from Irish parents, 5th Chief Justice of New Zealand from 1926 to 1929
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Skerrett migration to the United States 
Skerrett migration to Canada 
Skerrett migration to Australia 
Skerrett migration to New Zealand 
