SKINNER members around the world

SKINNER Family History

This is an Anglo-Scottish surname, the origins in both countries being the same. Of all the great medieval guilds that of the Worshipful Company of Skinners was amongst those of highest honour, such was the importance of the skill. The derivation is from the Norse-Viking pre 5th century word "skinn" meaning a hide or pelt, and perhaps not surprisingly the surname is one of the first recorded as a hereditary occupational name. Early examples of these recordings include Ralph Le Skinnere, in the deeds of the county of Hertfordshire, England, for the year 1269, whilst in Scotland Stephan Skynnar is recorded as holding lands in Inverness in 1361...