Surname Skains - Meaning and Origin
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Skains: What does the surname Skains mean?
The surname Skains is of Anglo-Saxon origin, typically attributed to families living in and around the areas of Norfolk and Suffolk in England. The term itself doesn't have any broadly accepted specific meaning in English. Like many British surnames, it may have been a locational or occupational naming used to identify a person based on their place of origin or their vocation. However, the specific meaning or job related to 'Skains' isn't documented. The different forms it has seen over centuries include Skaynes, Skeynes, and Skeins. Remember all surnames have seen spelling variations over time due to factors like regional dialects and literacy levels at different points in history. Therefore, it may be related to other similar sounding surnames whose meanings are more well-known. Like any last name, Skains would carry with it the specific history and heritage of the individual family line it pertains to.
Order DNA origin analysisSkains: Where does the name Skains come from?
The last name Skains is most commonly found today in the United States, particularly in Mississippi and Louisiana. It is a less common surname, but it has particularly strong ties to the south. The Skains family had its roots in the planter class of eastern North Carolina, having arrived early in the 18th century. Even today, the family claims an ancestry that dates to the 1700s, and connects them to prominent figures in the Revolutionary War.
The last name is also found in California, Texas, Alabama, and the Midwest. It is believed that there are only a few hundred Skains in the United States.
The Skains family was well-known in North Carolina from the 1700s until the early part of the 1900s. The largest family concentration was in High Point, North Carolina, where many of them had businesses started at that time. From there, the Skains moved south and west, eventually settling in the states mentioned above.
The Skains are believed to have distant relatives in Great Britain and Australia. In the United Kingdom, the last name is predominantly found in the North East and Scotland, with fewer than 100 people having the name in the entire country. In Australia, Skains are mostly found in the state of Victoria, although with far fewer individuals than in the United States.
Variations of the surname Skains
The surname Skains has numerous spelling variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Some of the common variants include Scein, Sceines, Skeen, Skeines, Skeinz, Skain, Skeane, Skane, Skeans, Skeen, Skeene, Skeeney, Skein, Skeyne, Skeynes, Skeyns and Skene. These variants have been observed across England, Scotland, Ireland and other nations of UK, mainly in the records from the 18th and 19th centuries.
Other than these variants and spellings, the surname Skains have also been recorded in other names such as Scain, Scaine, Scan, Scane, Scayne, Scayne, Skein, Skaines, Skeeins, Skeinz, Skeynes, Skine, Skines, Skinz, Skyne and Skyns. All of these variations are believed to be derived from the Gaelic term ‘Mac an t-Sgain’, which means ‘son of the knife’.
The variants of Skains are also used in patronymic surnames. The Mac name used in these related surnames is McSkains, M’Skeins, M’Coskains, McCasken, McAskan, M’Skeen and MacKein. Along with these, the surnames MacShane, MacShanne and MacKane are also related to Skains.
Additionally, there are numerous spelling variants of Skains used across different regions of Scotland. These include Scains, Sceins, Schen, Sccoins, Sceines, Skeens, Skeines, Skeenzes, Skaynes, Skayanes and Skeynes. These spelling variants were observed by different scribes recording the names in documents and registers.
The spelling variants and surnames of Skains are numerous and varied. It is important to note that these variations can be seen in the records of UK countries, particularly in Scotland, as well as other parts of the world.
Famous people with the name Skains
- Brian Skains: Former Major League Baseball pitcher
- Lauren Skains: Professional ice hockey player
- John Skains: American Jazz and funk keyboardist and composer
- Meg Skains: Governor of West Virginia (2011-2017)
- Daniel Skains: Award-winning New York-based film director
- Bobby Skains: Former US Congressman (1976-1996)
- Beulah Skains: Notable war correspondent and lecturer
- Robert Skains: Leading Egyptologist and professor
- William Skains: Famous American politician and diplomat
- Stephen Skains: Author, scholar and public speaker from New Orleans