William the Conqueror was bastard son of Robert I, Duke of Normandy and Herleva, daughter of a tanner, or dealer of hides (SKINNER?)in Falaise.

She was married off to Herluin, Viscount of Conteville. She bore two half-brothers to William; Odo of Bayeux and Robert of Mortain. Both accompanied him to England. Robert obtained land in 19 different counties of England. He came to be the largest land-holder in eleventh century England. (from "William the Conqueror" by David C. Douglas and "The Normans" by Timothy Baker)

Samuel W. Skinner was born in Westmoreland, NH in 1840. (Not Ancient yet - read on.) He commenced working in the Springfield armory in 1862, and for a time was employed as inspector of arms at Norfolk and Hartford, CT, after which he was engaged as contractor of firearms for 1 year in N.Y.C. In 1864, he removed to Ilion, where he became connected with the Ilion armory, working under contract in the gun barrel department. His descent can be traced direct from Sir Robert Skinner, who accompanied William the Conqueror from Normandy to England, and assisted in subduing that country and removing it from Saxon rule. His grandfather, Timothy Skinner, served in the Revolutionary War.

(It seems all roads lead to Rome, but the road disappeared some time ago. Perhaps with a lot of digging, we’ll find the path again. -ed.)

Also

From: The History of Orange County, New York, compiled by E.M. Ruttenger and L.H. Clark, Philadelphia, 1881: The Skinner family in America were originally represented by seven brothers who emigrated from England at an early date, four of whom settled in Canada, and the remainder in the United States. At a later period two removed to New York State, and one to New Jersey.

From Howard E. Skinner of Berkeley, CA:

In Britain, the name SKINNER is considered (and is) Scottish - being a sept of the Mac Gregor Clan (southern most of the Highlanders). Males who came from York, England in the 12th or 13th Century to get the leather from the cattle that the Scot butchered - Scots wanting the meat - could not be trusted to preserve the leather - SKINNERS were really TANNERS seeking good hides.

The Maryland Skinners were the family that James Michner calls the 'Steed' family in his novel "Chesapeake." They sold their shipbuilding business to Bethlehem Steel in the year 1900.