skou

Skou is a Danish surname. It is most commonly found in Denmark and among Danish communities abroad. The name is borne by several individuals who have contributed to public life in science, culture, and academia, among them Jens Christian Skou.

Jens Christian Skou (1918–2018) was a Danish biophysicist who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1997 for the discovery of the sodium-potassium pump, a cell membrane transporter that moves three sodium ions out of the cell and two potassium ions in, against their concentration gradients, using energy from ATP hydrolysis. This enzyme, Na+/K+-ATPase, is essential for maintaining the electrochemical gradients that underlie nerve impulse transmission, muscle contraction, and many cellular processes. Skou's work established a key principle in physiology and has influenced pharmacology and medicine.

The surname Skou is part of Danish onomastic tradition, and individuals with the name may be found in other countries due to migration. The span of professions among those named Skou ranges from science to the arts and public service, reflecting broader Scandinavian naming patterns where surnames are used across generations.