Skiptown History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Skiptown

What does the name Skiptown mean?

The present generation of the Skiptown family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in the village of Skipton found in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The surname Skiptown is a habitation name which forms a broad category of surnames that were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. As a general rule, the greater the distance between an individual and their homeland, the larger the territory they were named after. For example, a person who only moved to another parish would be known by the name of their original village, while people who migrated to a different country were often known by the name of a region or country from which they came.

Early Origins of the Skiptown family

The surname Skiptown was first found in the West Riding of Yorkshire where in the Domesday Survey in 1086 the village was shown as being the "King's Land." Skipton Castle was built by the Normans in the same year, but at the time of the War of the Roses, Skipton Castle was acquired by the Clffords.

Early History of the Skiptown family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Skiptown research. Another 56 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1640 and 1802 are included under the topic Early Skiptown History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Skiptown Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Skiptown include Scipton, Sciptone, Skipton, Skiptone and others.

Early Notables of the Skiptown family

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

Migration of the Skiptown family to Ireland

Some of the Skiptown family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 43 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Skiptown family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Skiptown were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Valentine Skipton landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1842.

The Skiptown 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: Pro patria
Motto Translation: For my country.