Surname Scales - Meaning and Origin

Scales: What does the surname Scales mean?

The last name Scales is of English and French origin. It is thought to originate from Old French "escal" meaning “ladder, flight of stairs or steps” although there are various other possibilities for the origin of the name.

The surname Scales is an occupational surname, given to those who worked with a ladder or who built staircases. The name most likely began as a nickname – someone referred to by the nickname "Scales" due to their occupation.

The surname Scales can also be found in Scotland, however, in this case it is thought to come from an old Celtic word “Scail” meaning “taboo” or "under a ban".

The popularity of the surname Scales in Great Britain is found mostly in Lancashire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and Hampshire. The name has now spread to the United States, Canada and Australia.

Originally, the name may have been a nickname, but it is now seen as a shorthand way to identify a family, as well as a signature to define an individual and their identity, revealing information about where a family comes from and the occupation of its forebears.

Scales: Where does the name Scales come from?

The last name Scales is most common in the United States, where it ranks around 4,000 on the US census list of most common surnames. It is also popular in England, where it ranks around 1,400.

The Scales name is found in records from the Middle Ages, and it is a surname related to both trade and occupation. The name most likely derives from the Middle English word "scal'' which meant "skillet". Over time, it came to refer to a type of merchant who weighed goods on scales. It could also refer to someone with a physical ailment or horse-related occupation, such as a farrier.

Other variations of the name include Scale, Scaill, Scala, Skael, Sale and Skill. It is also related to the Scottish and English surname Lauder, which comes from the Middle English term "leuthre", meaning a balance or set of scales.

In the United States, the Scales name is most prevalent in the southern states, particularly in Mississippi and Kentucky. The states with the highest numbers of people with the Scales name are Texas, Mississippi, North Carolina, Alabama and Virginia.

Today, people with the Scales name can be found in many countries around the world. There are Scales families in Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and parts of Africa and Asia.

Variations of the surname Scales

The surname Scales has many variants spelling, as well as surnames that are of the same origin. Variants of the surname Scales include Scal, Scall, Scalet, Salie, and Skailes. In addition, alternate spelling of the name include Scailles, Schal, Schale, Schall, Schalle, and Schayles.

Surnames with similar origin to the surname Scales include Skales, Skeals, Skeels, Skilis, Skillis, Skille, Skeillesh, Skeilsh, Skeles, Skeleshe, Skellis, and Skelly. Variants of these surnames include Skealish, Skealesh, and Skilsh.

The surname Scales is believed to be of Norman origin, derived from the Old French word "eschelles", which translates to “scales, steps”. This Old French word was further derived from the Latin word “scala” which means ladder, stairs, or staircase. It may have been used to indicate a person who lived at or near a staircase or stairs.

The name Scales is often found in records from the British Isles, however, records of the surname can be found throughout Europe. It is known to have been used historically in the regions of Wales, Norway, and Spain.

In conclusion, the surname Scales has many variations in spellings as well as surnames of the same origin. It is traced to Norman origin from the Old French and Latin words for “scales”. This Medieval name has been found throughout Europe, particularly in the British Isles.

Famous people with the name Scales

• Dame Mary Marsh Scales (1930–2020), British government administrator
• Cynthia Donaldson Scales (born 1947), US military officer
• Bill Scales (born 1966), Canadian football player
• Dave Scales (born 1969), British jazz pianist
• Naturi Naughton (born 1984), American actress and singer who was born as Naturi Cora Maria Scales
• Darryl Scales (born 1988), American football player
• Rachel Scales (born 1994), American synchronized swimmer
• Erick Scales (born 1995), American basketball player
• Sam Scales (born 2003), English child actor
• Ben Scales (born 2003), English swimmer

Other surnames

Scale