PAIR OF CHINESE PORCELAIN/SAMSON OF PARIS ARMORIAL PLATES, 18TH/19TH CENTURY each of octagonal form painted with the arms of Skinner, within a gilt spearhead border, the rim with a garland of famille rose flowers 22.5cm wide Note: The ancestors of the Skinner family brought their name to England in the wave of migration after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Skinner is for a skinner. The name was originally derived from the Old Norse word skinn, meaning hide, and indicates that the original bearer was employed in the trade of removing animal hides.As to underscore the significance of this trade name, "The Skinners' Company in London received their charter of incorporation so early as the first year of Edward II. " Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print." data-original-title="Citation">2 Reader's note: King Edward II reigned from 1307 to 1327. Like many of these early entries, this would note that the registration occurred during the first year of King Edward's reign.The surname Skinner was first found in Lincolnshire, England, where Sir Robert Skynner, a Norman knight received from Duke William the lands of Bolinbroke, accompanied with the hand in marriage of the daughter of their former owner, Robert de Bolinbroke, of the Saxon race. In the year 1070 the issue of this relationship intermarried with many distinguished houses until the chief branch became extinct in the year 1700. Reference - HouseOfNames website. Further Reference: Chinese Armorial Porcelain, David Sanctuary Howard, Page 466 where the author mentions that the arms are identical to three bookplates in the Franks collection. Both in good condition. One rim with very small chip. Paintwork in good order. Very slight rubbing to some areas of the gilding. Additional images now available.