They were a successful court family, with one member, Margaret Skipwith, seen as a possible queen of England after the death of Henry VIII's third wife, Jane Seymour.
The surname Skipwith is derived from Old English "sceap" (sheep) and Old Norse "vath" (ford or wading place).
One ancient Skipwith coat of arms is blazoned "Argent, three bars Gules, in chief a greyhound courant Sable."
During the American Revolution, the seventh Baronet, Sir Peyton, continued to use his title throughout the war.
His son, Grey, who was left an estate by Sir Thomas George Skipwith, 4th Baronet, moved to England by 1801.