Skevington History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Early Origins of the Skevington family

The surname Skevington was first found in Leicestershire at Skeffington, a parish, in the union of Billesdon, hundred of East Goscote. [1] Dating back to at least the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was listed as Scifitone, the place name probably means "estate associated with a man called Sceaft," from the Old English personal name + "ing" + "tun." [2] The family is generally though to have been there since the year 1100 A.D.

Skeffington Hall is a Manor House originally constructed about 1450 and is now off the main street of the village of Skeffington, Leicestershire. It was extended c. 1530 and again in the mid 1600s. This was the birthplace of Sir William Skeffington (c. 1465-1535) Lord Deputy of Ireland and Thomas Skevington, Bishop of Bangor (died 1533.) The property was passed down to Sir William Farrell-Skeffington, 1st Baronet, (1742-1815), a British Army officer who sold the Hall to the Tailby family just before his death in 1815.

Early History of the Skevington family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Skevington research. Another 72 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1465, 1535, 1508, 1515, 1521, 1535, 1695, 1660, 1714, 1739, 1533, 1509 and are included under the topic Early Skevington History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Skevington Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Skeffington, Sheffington, Skiffington, Skefington and others.

Early Notables of the Skevington family (pre 1700)

Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir William Skeffington (c.1465-1535), born in Skeffington, Leicestershire, High Sheriff of Leicestershire and Warwickshire for 1508, 1515 and 1521, Lord Deputy for Ireland (1535); John Skeffington, 2nd Viscount Massereene (died 1695); Clotworthy Skeffington, 3rd Viscount Massereene (1660-1714); and Clotworthy Skeffington, 4th Viscount Massereene (died 1739.) Sir Leonard Skevington, Lieutenant of the Tower of London, was the inventor of Scavenger's Daughter (or Skevington's Daughter), an instrument of torture in the...
Another 76 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Skevington Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Skevington family to Ireland

Some of the Skevington family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Skevington migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Skevington Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Albert E. Skevington, aged 28, originally from Newton, arrived in New York in 1895 aboard the ship "Teutonic" from Liverpool, England [3]

Skevington Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Robert Skevington, aged 16, arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Columbia" from Glasgow, Scotland [4]
Elizabeth F. Skevington, aged 30, arrived in New York in 1921 aboard the ship "Carmania" from Liverpool, England [5]

Skevington 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:

Skevington Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Charles Edward Skevington, (b. 1858), aged infant, English settler from Turvey travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1858 [6]
Mr. Charles Skevington, (b. 1829), aged 29, English farm labourer from Turvey travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1858 [6]
Mrs. Ann Skevington, (b. 1831), aged 27, English settler from Turvey travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1858 [6]
Miss Mary Ann Skevington, (b. 1853), aged 5, English settler from Turvey travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1858 [6]

Contemporary Notables of the name Skevington (post 1700) +

John Skevington, American actor, known for An Angel for May (2002)
Pat Skevington, American actress, known for Shame (1998), Love in Limbo (1993) and Plugg (1975)
Jeffrey Skevington, Canadian researcher at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

The Skevington Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Per augusta ad augusta
Motto Translation: Through dangers to honor.