UK surname
A dialectal surname likely derived from a geographic name.
In the 1881 census there were 54 people recorded with the Slagg surname, ranking it #26,009 among surnames in the records. By 2011, the modern count was 1, ranked #39,015, down from #26,009 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Gainsborough, Paddocks, Eckington and St George the Martyr. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Slagg is 156 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 98.1%.
1881 census count
54
Ranked #26,009
Modern count
1
2011, ranked #39,015
Peak year
1891
156 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Slagg surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Slagg surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 67 | #21,440 |
| 1861 | historical | 103 | #20,650 |
| 1881 | historical | 54 | #26,009 |
| 1891 | historical | 156 | #17,842 |
| 1901 | historical | 39 | #29,799 |
| 1911 | historical | 46 | #28,224 |
| 1997 | modern | 3 | #38,317 |
| 1998 | modern | 3 | #38,304 |
| 1999 | modern | 3 | #38,318 |
| 2000 | modern | 5 | #37,823 |
| 2001 | modern | 3 | #38,091 |
| 2002 | modern | 2 | #38,400 |
| 2003 | modern | 1 | #38,735 |
| 2006 | modern | 1 | #38,879 |
| 2009 | modern | 1 | #38,998 |
| 2010 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2011 | modern | 1 | #39,015 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Gainsborough, Paddocks, Eckington, St George the Martyr, Sheffield and Staveley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gainsborough, Paddocks | Lincolnshire |
| 2 | Eckington | Derbyshire |
| 3 | St George the Martyr | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | Sheffield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | Staveley | Derbyshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Slagg surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Slagg, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Slagg surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Slagg household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Slagg is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Slagg is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Slagg, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname SLAGG is believed to have originated in England during the late medieval period. Its roots can be traced back to the Old English word "slæc," which meant "slack" or "sluggish," likely referring to a person's physical or temperamental characteristics. The name may have been a descriptive nickname or occupational name given to someone who was perceived as slow or lazy.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SLAGG appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1297, where a person named William Slagge is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 13th century in the northern parts of England.
During the 15th century, the SLAGG surname can be found in various records, such as the Feet of Fines for Suffolk from 1446, where a John Slagge is mentioned. The name also appears in the Hearth Tax Rolls for Yorkshire in the 17th century, indicating its continued presence in the region.
One notable individual with the surname SLAGG was John Slagg (1660-1728), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Rector of Kilkhampton in Cornwall. Another was Thomas Slagg (1728-1797), a British soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later settled in Canada.
In the 18th century, the SLAGG surname appears to have spread to other parts of the British Isles, as evidenced by the birth of William Slagg in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1753.
Over the centuries, variations in spelling have emerged, including Slagg, Slagge, Slegge, and Slegg, reflecting the fluidity of surname spellings before standardization became more common.
Among other notable individuals with the SLAGG surname are:
1. Robert Slagg (1771-1843), an English mathematician and surveyor. 2. Elizabeth Slagg (1819-1891), a British suffragist and activist for women's rights. 3. James Slagg (1856-1932), a Scottish-born Canadian politician and businessman. 4. Henry Slagg (1875-1947), an English cricketer who played for Lancashire. 5. Edith Slagg (1891-1968), an American artist and painter known for her landscape and still-life works.
While the SLAGG surname may not be among the most common in modern times, its historical roots and presence across various regions and professions make it a distinctive and intriguing surname with a rich tapestry of stories and individuals behind it.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Slagg surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Derbyshire leads with 10 Slaggs recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.70x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Derbyshire | 10 | 11.70x |
| Middlesex | 10 | 1.83x |
| Yorkshire | 9 | 1.66x |
| Lancashire | 8 | 1.23x |
| Kent | 7 | 3.76x |
| Nottinghamshire | 3 | 4.08x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 1.79x |
| Isle of Man | 2 | 19.72x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 1.45x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.93x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.38x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 1.40x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ecclesall Bierlow in Yorkshire leads with 7 Slaggs recorded in 1881 and an index of 63.58x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 7 | 63.58x |
| Deptford St Paul | 4 | 27.84x |
| Paddington London | 4 | 19.92x |
| Barlborough | 3 | 937.50x |
| Staveley | 3 | 197.37x |
| Chorlton On Medlock | 2 | 19.44x |
| Killamarsh | 2 | 377.36x |
| Lytham | 2 | 202.02x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 2 | 10.50x |
| Onchan | 2 | 68.49x |
| Sevenoaks | 2 | 132.45x |
| Sheffield | 2 | 11.61x |
| St Giles In Fields | 2 | 106.38x |
| Bethnal Green London | 1 | 4.22x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 2.18x |
| Chesterfield | 1 | 31.25x |
| Clifton On Dunsmore | 1 | 909.09x |
| Eckington | 1 | 48.08x |
| Henbury | 1 | 192.31x |
| Hillingdon | 1 | 57.47x |
| Holdenhurst | 1 | 34.01x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.89x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 3.29x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 2.10x |
| North Meols | 1 | 15.77x |
| Oldbury | 1 | 28.49x |
| Plumstead | 1 | 16.10x |
| Rusholme | 1 | 57.80x |
| Salford | 1 | 5.25x |
| St Faith Winchester | 1 | 192.31x |
| West Derby | 1 | 5.27x |
| Worksop | 1 | 45.87x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Slagg surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Slagg surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Slagg households.
FAQ
In 1881, 54 people were recorded with the Slagg surname. That placed it at #26,009 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2011. That gives Slagg a modern rank of #39,015.
A dialectal surname likely derived from a geographic name.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Slagg bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.