Skittles

This interesting and unusual name, with variant spellings Skottle, Skittle(s) etc., derives from the Old English "scyttel" translating variously as a bar, bolt or shuttle, (related to the Old Scandinavian "skyttel, a shuttle), and was originally given as a metonymic occupational name to one who made shuttles for weaving purposes, or perhaps to someone who forged bars or bolts for defence structures. With reference to the latter it is interesting to note that Shuttleworth in Lancashire and Shutlanger, (Northamptonshire), both have as their first element the Old English "scyttel", a fortification with bars of a certain kind. On November 24th 1605, Joan Skittle and John Write were married in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, and in January 1613, Elizabeth Scatell, an infant, was christened in St. Margarets, Westminster, London. One, Anne Skittels was christened in St. Luke's, Chelsea, on January 5th 1745, and Sarah Skettles was christened in Dartford, Kent on January 6th 1806. The final "s" on the name indicates the patronymic form. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Agnes Skottle, (marriage to John Culpack), which was dated September 17th 1581, at St. Nicholas, Colchester, Essex, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.