Show ContentsSkiles History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Skiles is a Westphalian-German nickname. Such surnames were very common in Westphalia. They were adapted from traditional eke-names, or added names, that described physical characteristics of their bearers. Skiles is a hereditary surname for a person who was either wild or clamorous. The name was originally derived from the German word "schel," which means "noisy" or "loud."

Early Origins of the Skiles family

The surname Skiles was first found in Westphalia, where the name emerged in mediaeval times as one of the notable families of the region. From the 13th century on the surname was identified with the great social and economic evolution which made this territory a landmark contributor to the development of the German nation. As early as 1526 they had their seat at the manor Schellenberg near Essen.

Early History of the Skiles family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Skiles research. Another 201 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1510, 1562, 1620, 1648, 1680, 1701, 1763, 1774, 1775, 1808, 1809 and 1854 are included under the topic Early Skiles History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Skiles Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Skiles include Schell, Schelle, Schelling, Scheller and others.

Early Notables of the Skiles family

Notables of the period with the name Skiles were Johann Heinrich Schmelzer (ca. 1620-1680), an Austrian composer and violinist ; Johann Schelle (1648-1701), a German Baroque composer; Friedrich Wilhelm von Schelling (1775-1854, ennobled...
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Skiles Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Skiles Ranking

In the United States, the name Skiles is the 5,569th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. [1]


United States Skiles migration to the United States +

For many Germans, emigration to North America was an inviting alternative to the trials of life in the old country. From the mid-17th into the present century, thousands of Germans migrated across the Atlantic. They capitalized on the chance to escape poverty and persecution, and to own their own land. After 1650, Germans settled throughout the states of Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many also landed in Canada, settling in Ontario or father west on the rich land of the prairies. Among them:

Skiles Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • David Skiles, aged 36, who immigrated to the United States, in 1903
  • K.W. Skiles, who immigrated to the United States, in 1908
  • T. Skiles, who immigrated to the United States, in 1908
  • Mrs. Geo. M. Skiles, aged 56, who settled in America, in 1910
  • Geo. Glen Skiles, aged 19, who landed in America, in 1910
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Skiles (post 1700) +

  • William Al "Bill" Skiles (1931-2011), American comedian, member of the comedic duo Skiles and Henderson; he played the clown and together they signed on at Disneyland in 1958
  • William West Skiles, American founder of the community of Valle Crucis, North Carolina in the 1840s
  • William Vernon Skiles (1879-1947), American professor of mathematics and Dean of the Georgia Institute of Technology
  • William Woodburn Skiles (1849-1904), American politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio (1901-1904)
  • Scott Allen Skiles (b. 1964), American basketball head coach of the Orlando Magic and former player who won the 1990-91 NBA Most Improved Player Award
  • William Woodburn Skiles (1849-1904), American Republican politician, U.S. Representative from Ohio 14th District, 1901-04 [2]
  • Frank Skiles, American Republican politician, Chair of Fulton County Republican Party, 1927 [2]
  • C. M. Skiles, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Nebraska 4th District, 1912; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Nebraska, 1916 [2]

USS Arizona
  • Mr. Charley Jackson Skiles Jr., American Seaman Second Class from Virginia, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking [3]
  • Mr. Eugene Skiles, American Seaman Second Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking [3]


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 27) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  3. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html


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