Show ContentsSkeets History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Skeets family

The surname Skeets was first found in Norfolk where the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was listed as Scet and Schett. 1 One of the first records of the name was Ricardus filius Schet who was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1166 in Norfolk. A few years later the Pipe Rolls of 1201 lists Walter Sket in Shropshire. 2 One reference claims the name traces its origin to an Old Norse byname Skjotr which literally meant "swift." 3 Another reference claims that it was a baptismal name as "the son of Sket." 4 Yet another reference claims that it is French in origin and is a variant of Keat or Keats. 5 We disagree with this latter reference. Whatever the origin, the name was concentrated in Norfolk in the early years "found frequently as Sket in Norfolk and neighbouring county of Suffolk in the Hundred Rolls." 4 Listings in the Hundred Rolls of 1273 include: Sketh [no personal name] in Norfolk; Alan Sket and Nicholas Sket in Suffolk; and John Sket in Norfolk.

Early History of the Skeets family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Skeets research. Another 72 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1201, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Skeets History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Skeets Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Skeat, Skeath, Skate, Skeet, Skeets, Skayte and many more.

Early Notables of the Skeets family

More information is included under the topic Early Skeets Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Australia Skeets migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Skeets Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Skeets, English convict who was convicted in Chelmsford, Essex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Equestrian" on 25th January 1844, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Skeets (post 1700) +

  • Skeets Friedkin, American Democratic Party politician, Presidential Elector for Florida, 1996 7


  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 4th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/equestrian
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 30) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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