Skipworth History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe Norman Conquest of England in 1066 brought much change to the island nation, including many immigrants with new names. Among these immigrants were the ancestors of the Skipworth family, who lived in Yorkshire, at Skipwith, a village and civil parish about 4 miles (6.4 km) northeast of Selby. Skipwith Hall was built in the early 1700's and still survives today as "a handsome mansion." 1 Literally, the place name means "sheep farm, from the Old English words "scip" +"wic" 2 and was first listed as Schipewic in the Domesday Book of 1086. 3 Early Origins of the Skipworth familyThe surname Skipworth was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat at Skipwith, where Robert of Estoteville, (sometimes called 'Stuteville',) the ancestor of the Skipwiths, Baron of Cottingham, was granted his lands by William, Duke of Normandy, after his Conquest of England in 1066 A.D. This family was one of the most distinguished in all Normandy and held the Castle at Ambrieres. They were very close both to King Henry, and his brother Duke Robert of Normandy. The Baron became Lord of the Manor of Skipwith. The first to assume the name Skipwith was Patrick de Skipwith, the second son of the Baron. 4 "Snore Hall [in the parish of Fordham in Norfolk], now a farmhouse, was the seat of the family of Skipwith, who entertained Charles I. on the night previous to his delivering himself to the Scottish army. " 1 Early History of the Skipworth familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Skipworth research. Another 111 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1348, 1529, 1539, 1547, 1586, 1616, 1620, 1652, 1658, 1663, 1670, 1676, 1677, 1680, 1694, 1710, 1728, 1730 and 1867 are included under the topic Early Skipworth History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Skipworth Spelling VariationsA multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Skipwith, Skipworth, Shipwith, Shipworth and others. Early Notables of the Skipworth familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was William Skipwith (fl.1348), Member of Parliament for York; William Skipwith (died 1547), Member of Parliament for Lincolnshire in 1529 and 1539; William Skipwith (died 1586), Member of Parliament for Lincolnshire in 1547; Sir Henry Skipwith, 1st Baronet of Prestwould (d. c. 1658); Sir Henry Skipwith, 2nd Baronet of Prestwould (c. 1616-c. 1663); Sir Grey Skipwith, 3rd Baronet... Skipworth RankingIn the United States, the name Skipworth is the 15,662nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5
Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Skipworth or a variant listed above: Skipworth Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Skipworth Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Skipworth Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
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: Skipworth Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
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