The story
The surname Skerlavai is related to the Slovene patronym Škerlj and its related forms. According to linguist Franc Jakopin, the origin of the name Škerlj (and its derived variants) may trace back either to the appellative skril (“slate”, *Schiefer* in German), or to the popular onomatopoeia škrlj (“lark”) . Skerlavai is related to several Slovene surnames sharing the same etymological base, including Škerlj, Škerl, Škerlak, Škerlec and Škerlavaj. The Skerlavai variant is attested in the Trieste area, formerly part of the Austrian Küstenland until 1918, alongside other forms such as Skerl and Skerlj, and has been present in Trieste for several centuries. Closely related variants such as Skerlavaj and Škerlj are also found in neighboring Slovenia, attesting to the regional continuity of these surnames.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.