NameCensus.

UK surname

Slaughter

An occupational surname referring to a person who butchered animals or worked as a slaughterer or executioner.

In the 1881 census there were 1,476 people recorded with the Slaughter surname, ranking it #2,829 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,617, ranked #3,853, down from #2,829 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, London parishes and Brighton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Arun and Brighton and Hove.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Slaughter is 2,022 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9.6%.

1881 census count

1,476

Ranked #2,829

Modern count

1,617

2016, ranked #3,853

Peak year

1911

2,022 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Slaughter had 1,476 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,829 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,617 in 2016, ranked #3,853.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,022 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Slaughter surname distribution map

The map shows where the Slaughter surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Slaughter surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Slaughter over time

The 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 863 #3,154
1861 historical 812 #3,388
1881 historical 1,476 #2,829
1891 historical 1,518 #2,910
1901 historical 1,901 #2,783
1911 historical 2,022 #2,461
1997 modern 1,796 #3,343
1998 modern 1,853 #3,374
1999 modern 1,816 #3,444
2000 modern 1,785 #3,488
2001 modern 1,732 #3,512
2002 modern 1,752 #3,556
2003 modern 1,693 #3,592
2004 modern 1,695 #3,590
2005 modern 1,672 #3,596
2006 modern 1,643 #3,654
2007 modern 1,651 #3,668
2008 modern 1,646 #3,706
2009 modern 1,701 #3,666
2010 modern 1,689 #3,781
2011 modern 1,667 #3,778
2012 modern 1,634 #3,767
2013 modern 1,650 #3,803
2014 modern 1,657 #3,816
2015 modern 1,632 #3,826
2016 modern 1,617 #3,853

Geography

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Where Slaughters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, London parishes, Brighton and St Giles Camberwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Arun, Brighton and Hove and Broadland. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst Sussex
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Brighton Sussex
5 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 009 Northumberland
2 Arun 005 Arun
3 Brighton and Hove 010 Brighton and Hove
4 Broadland 001 Broadland
5 Northumberland 012 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Slaughter

These lists show first names that appear often with the Slaughter surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Slaughter

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Slaughter, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Slaughter surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Slaughter household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Slaughter is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Slaughter is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Slaughter falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Slaughter is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Slaughter, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Slaughter

The surname Slaughter is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "slaghter," which means "butcher" or "slaughterer." The name likely originated as an occupational surname for someone who worked as a butcher or in a slaughterhouse.

In the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners in England compiled in 1086, several individuals with the surname Slaughter or variations of it, such as Slahtre and Slactere, are mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Slaughter dates back to 1273 in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, where a John le Slauhtere is listed. The use of the prefix "le" before the surname indicates that it was an occupational name at that time.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, such as Slaghter, Slaughter, and Slawghter, reflecting the evolving spelling conventions of the time. One notable example is William Slaughter, a merchant from London who was mentioned in records from 1381.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Slaughter became more widespread across England. In 1587, a Thomas Slaughter was recorded in the parish registers of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Slaughter. One example is Sir Robert Slaughter (1592-1671), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Ludgershall in Wiltshire. Another is William Slaughter (1623-1679), an English Puritan minister and author who served as the chaplain to Oliver Cromwell.

In the 18th century, the Slaughter surname gained prominence in Virginia, United States, where several individuals with this name were among the early settlers. One such person was Robert Slaughter (1704-1767), a prominent planter and landowner in Culpeper County, Virginia.

Another notable figure with the surname Slaughter is Gabriel Slaughter (1767-1830), a former governor of Kentucky and a veteran of the American Revolutionary War. He served as the seventh governor of Kentucky from 1816 to 1820.

In the 19th century, William Slaughter (1798-1891) was a prominent physician and politician from Virginia who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1835 to 1843.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Slaughter families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Slaughter surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Sussex leads with 295 Slaughters recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.14x.

County Total Index
Sussex 295 12.14x
Surrey 210 2.99x
Middlesex 189 1.31x
Norfolk 155 6.99x
Kent 94 1.91x
Hertfordshire 73 7.35x
Essex 69 2.42x
Hampshire 54 1.83x
Berkshire 51 4.71x
Warwickshire 49 1.35x
Yorkshire 49 0.34x
Oxfordshire 46 5.17x
Northumberland 27 1.26x
Durham 15 0.35x
Gloucestershire 13 0.46x
Northamptonshire 13 0.96x
Suffolk 11 0.63x
Lancashire 10 0.06x
Somerset 9 0.39x
Devon 8 0.27x
Buckinghamshire 7 0.80x
Wiltshire 6 0.47x
Brecknockshire 5 1.73x
Derbyshire 5 0.22x
Bedfordshire 2 0.27x
Cheshire 2 0.06x
Dorset 2 0.21x
Royal Navy 2 1.16x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.17x
Cornwall 1 0.06x
Leicestershire 1 0.06x
Lincolnshire 1 0.04x
Midlothian 1 0.05x
Roxburghshire 1 0.38x
Worcestershire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 45 Slaughters recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.18x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 45 9.18x
Camberwell 45 4.89x
Broadwater 44 78.91x
West Ham 31 4.93x
Aston 30 3.00x
Arundel 26 191.04x
Steyning 25 303.40x
Wandsworth 24 17.29x
Ludham 23 585.24x
Rotherhithe 22 12.35x
Halstead 19 57.23x
Islington London 19 1.36x
St Albans St Stephen 18 207.13x
Chelsea London 17 3.91x
Clerkenwell London 16 4.70x
Heigham 16 13.45x
Horning 16 744.19x
Reading St Giles 16 15.07x
St Marylebone London 16 2.08x
Battersea 15 2.83x
Lambeth 15 1.19x
Erpingham 14 777.78x
Hove 14 13.13x
Rickmansworth 14 51.17x
Clewer 13 29.33x
Croydon 13 3.33x
Leominster 13 166.03x
Hampstead London 12 5.34x
Horsham 12 25.41x
Langtoft 12 393.44x
St Pancras London 12 1.03x
Alverstoke 11 10.28x
Birmingham 11 0.91x
Clifton 11 7.70x
Norwich St George Colegate 11 136.48x
Twickenham 11 17.79x
Wye 11 144.36x
Cramlington 10 35.27x
Lewes All Sts 10 103.31x
Limehouse London 10 6.32x
Mile End Old Town 10 4.39x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 10 74.18x
Sudbury St Gregory 10 71.02x
Watford 10 12.98x
East Peckham 9 88.06x
Epsom 9 26.29x
Eversley 9 264.71x
Littlehampton 9 46.37x
Romsey Infra 9 89.91x
Send Ripley 9 98.36x
Upper Beeding 9 298.01x
Elswick 8 4.67x
Greenwich 8 3.49x
Kensington London 8 1.00x
New Shoreham 8 54.91x
Pirbright 8 224.09x
Portslade 8 53.84x
Stamford Baron St Martin 8 110.19x
Ashurst 7 382.51x
Lt Milton 7 388.89x
Mitcham 7 15.77x
Newington 7 1.31x
Rotherfield Greys 7 74.23x
Sandhurst 7 120.90x
Stody 7 1093.75x
Wokingham 7 28.34x
Abbots Langley 6 40.65x
Bedminster 6 2.75x
Bensington 6 105.63x
Bethnal Green London 6 0.96x
Bushey 6 25.36x
Coventry Holy Trinity 6 5.53x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 6 3.23x
Leyton 6 12.24x
Salehurst 6 56.98x
Sandwich St Peter 6 116.05x
Stoke Holy Cross 6 291.26x
Tilmanstone 6 333.33x
West Tarring 6 165.75x
Westoe 6 2.47x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Slaughter surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Slaughter surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 105
George 79
John 58
James 41
Thomas 41
Edward 35
Henry 34
Charles 27
Frederick 25
Alfred 17
Arthur 15
Robert 15
Walter 13
Harry 12
Albert 11
Edwin 10
Joseph 10
Richard 10
Francis 7
Frank 6
Fredk. 6
Herbert 5
David 4
Ernest 4
Samuel 4
Thos. 4
Willie 4
Wm. 4
Geo. 3
Mathew 3
Matthew 3
Andrew 2
Archibald 2
Benjamin 2
Edgar 2
Edmund 2
Eldred 2
Elijah 2
Fred 2
Frederic 2
Fredrick 2
Horatio 2
Infant 2
Jas. 2
Mark 2
Peter 2
Reginald 2
Sidney 2
Sydney 2
Willm. 2

FAQ

Slaughter surname: questions and answers

How common was the Slaughter surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,476 people were recorded with the Slaughter surname. That placed it at #2,829 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Slaughter surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,617 in 2016. That gives Slaughter a modern rank of #3,853.

What does the Slaughter surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a person who butchered animals or worked as a slaughterer or executioner.

What does the Slaughter map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Slaughter bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.