Skenfield surname

[thboysmummy]

Can anyone help with where this surname originates from?

there seems to be a lot of them in the Bristol area in the early 1800s

Thanks in advance

Kat

[stanmapstone]

There are only 25 in the 1881 census all in the Bristol Area, with four heads of families. There were only 28 in use in England, Wales and the Isle of Mann in September 2002.

Stan

[snowball]

Hi,
Earliest mention in the London Gazette is bankrupt Bristol victualler Thomas S in 1795: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/13747/pages/106 (bottom column 1)
Regards
Rob

[stanmapstone]

There are 50 in the IGI the earliest being  JACOBUS SKENFIELD - Christening: 01 JAN 1727 Staunton By Monmouth, Gloucester, England
It could be an Anglicized version of a foreign name

Stan

[thboysmummy]

My family goes back to a John Skenfield born c1771 I have his marriage and children I just find it a very unusual name and can find no reference to this surname further back.

[stanmapstone]

My family goes back to a John Skenfield born c1771 I have his marriage and children I just find it a very unusual name and can find no reference to this surname further back.

There is an earlier one on the IGI
 XTOPHER SKENFIELD - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 19 MAR 1726 Llandogo, Monmouth, England

Stan

[thboysmummy]

Hi thanks for the message I am aware of the Skenfields on the IGI's

The family can't just have appeared here someone must have come accross this surname before well I can hope.

My question is a simple one does anyone know of the origin of this surname? although the answer seems to be a mystery

Kat

[chris_49]

I've not heard the name before but if the earliest mentions are at Llandogo and near Monmouth, could its origins be from Skenfrith in Monmouthshire which is not far away, or from a now-extinct place Skenfield nearby? It reads like a locative surname to me (as does Skelcey which I still don't know the origin of). I have to say that locative surnames in Wales are almost unheard of, but east Monmouthshire may prove the exception, as usual.

Chris

[magichappens56]

From what I have been told from previous genealogy researchers I have spoken to, the name Skenfield may possibly have a Jewish lineage. I'm not sure if this is accurate or not.