This most interesting name, found particularly in Gloucestershire, has three possible sources. Firstly, it may be of Scandinavian origin, given to a dweller by a "skrayne", which was a roadway or bridge constructed over a stream or marsh lands, consisting of poles interlaced with wicker. Such roads have only recently been discovered in the Somerset Wetlands. In some instances the name may have originated from the place Skreens, near Chelmsford in Essex. Though less likely, another source concludes that it is a variant of the name Skrine, which is said to be of Spanish origin, from one Don Eskrino, a follower of Philip 11 of Spain in 1555. One Rycherd Skreene, son of Rycherd Skreene, was christened at St. Mary Botham, London, on October 22nd 1598. Nicholas Skrene married Jone Portus on August 20th 1603 at St. Dunstan's, Stepney, London. William Screen married Ann Carter at St. Mary's, Marylebone, London on January 4th 1671. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Edward Scryne, which was dated February 9th 1578, witness at the christening of his daughter Ann, at "Cirencester in Gloucestershire", during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1st, 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.

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