NameCensus.

UK surname

Slaven

A surname of Slavic origin, derived from the word "slava" meaning "glory" or "fame."

In the 1881 census there were 436 people recorded with the Slaven surname, ranking it #7,485 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,046, ranked #5,577, up from #7,485 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North East Lincolnshire, Rothesay Town and West Pilton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Slaven is 1,046 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 139.9%.

1881 census count

436

Ranked #7,485

Modern count

1,046

2016, ranked #5,577

Peak year

2016

1,046 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Slaven had 436 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,485 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,046 in 2016, ranked #5,577.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 504 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Slaven surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Slaven surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Slaven 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 114 #15,716
1861 historical 180 #13,057
1881 historical 436 #7,485
1891 historical 504 #7,377
1901 historical 438 #8,881
1911 historical 80 #24,821
1997 modern 901 #5,956
1998 modern 916 #6,064
1999 modern 946 #5,971
2000 modern 954 #5,907
2001 modern 934 #5,894
2002 modern 944 #5,958
2003 modern 914 #6,009
2004 modern 928 #5,936
2005 modern 928 #5,891
2006 modern 949 #5,799
2007 modern 974 #5,727
2008 modern 980 #5,743
2009 modern 1,012 #5,709
2010 modern 1,038 #5,700
2011 modern 1,008 #5,782
2012 modern 1,014 #5,677
2013 modern 1,007 #5,785
2014 modern 1,027 #5,727
2015 modern 1,027 #5,686
2016 modern 1,046 #5,577

Geography

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Where Slavens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Greenock and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North East Lincolnshire, Rothesay Town, West Pilton, Darlington and Moodiesburn West. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Greenock Renfrew
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North East Lincolnshire 001 North East Lincolnshire
2 Rothesay Town Argyll and Bute
3 West Pilton City of Edinburgh
4 Darlington 014 Darlington
5 Moodiesburn West North Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Slaven

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Slaven

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Slaven surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Slaven household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Slaven is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Slaven is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Slaven falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Slaven is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Slaven

The surname Slaven has its origins in the Slavic language and culture, and is believed to have first emerged in the region of modern-day Poland and the Czech Republic during the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Slavic word "slava," which means "glory" or "fame," suggesting that the original bearers of this surname may have been individuals of notable reputation or achievement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Slaven surname can be found in the 14th century Polish chronicles, where it appears in reference to a prominent noble family. In the 15th century, a variant spelling, Slavin, is documented in the Bohemian region, indicating the name's spread and adaptation across different Slavic territories.

During the Renaissance period, the Slaven name gained further prominence, with several notable individuals bearing this surname. One such figure was Jan Slaven (1480-1548), a renowned Czech humanist scholar and writer who made significant contributions to the development of the Czech language and literature.

In the 17th century, the Slaven surname appeared in various records across Central and Eastern Europe, including the Prussian regions. A notable bearer of this name was Caspar Slaven (1635-1701), a German-born Jesuit missionary who traveled extensively in Asia, leaving behind valuable accounts of his travels and cultural observations.

As the Slavic diaspora spread across the globe, the Slaven surname also found its way to other parts of the world. In the 19th century, records show individuals with the Slaven surname emigrating to the Americas, particularly to the United States and Canada, where they established new communities and contributed to the cultural diversity of these nations.

Among the notable figures with the Slaven surname in more recent history are:

1. Zora Slaven (1920-2005), a Croatian-born American writer and journalist who wrote extensively about Slavic culture and history. 2. Michael Slaven (born 1958), an American actor and producer known for his work in films and television shows. 3. Slavenko Musladin (1935-2011), a Croatian-born Australian painter and sculptor who was recognized for his contributions to the Australian art scene. 4. Slavomir Rawicz (1915-2004), a Polish-born British writer and former prisoner of war, best known for his memoir "The Long Walk." 5. Slavica Cukalovic (born 1978), a Serbian-born Canadian professional basketball player who represented Canada in international competitions.

While the origins of the Slaven surname can be traced back to the Slavic regions of Central and Eastern Europe, it has since spread across the globe, carried by individuals of Slavic descent and those who have adopted this name over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Slaven families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Slaven 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. Lanarkshire leads with 127 Slavens recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.23x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 127 9.23x
Renfrewshire 80 24.27x
Lancashire 39 0.77x
Angus 36 9.14x
Midlothian 27 4.74x
Ayrshire 25 7.85x
Yorkshire 19 0.45x
Durham 18 1.42x
Buteshire 14 54.33x
Fife 13 5.16x
Wigtownshire 12 21.25x
Perthshire 8 4.19x
Somerset 5 0.73x
Stirlingshire 4 2.55x
Kent 2 0.14x
Middlesex 2 0.05x
Wiltshire 2 0.53x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.88x
Hampshire 1 0.11x
Staffordshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 50 Slavens recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.36x.

Place Total Index
Barony 50 14.36x
Glasgow 33 13.51x
Dundee 31 21.08x
Inverkip 29 373.23x
Old Monkland 17 31.15x
Maybole 13 134.16x
Rothesay 13 104.17x
West Greenock 13 21.97x
Eastwood 12 59.11x
Salford 12 8.08x
Stoneykirk 12 297.03x
Wakefield 12 37.09x
Cadder 11 108.27x
Dunfermline 11 28.42x
Govan 11 3.23x
Pemberton 11 54.67x
Lamesley 9 132.16x
Edinburgh Old Church 8 175.05x
Paisley High Church 8 30.49x
Toxteth Park 8 4.68x
Edinburgh High Church 7 195.53x
Edinburgh New North 7 141.13x
Middle Greenock 7 77.86x
Dailly 6 184.62x
Rattray 6 135.14x
Abbey 5 9.94x
Liff Benvie 5 8.36x
Taunton St Mary 5 39.78x
Neilston 4 24.17x
Skipton 4 30.17x
Westoe 4 5.58x
Dawdon 3 19.28x
Liverpool 3 0.98x
St Quivox 3 27.88x
Beath 2 25.13x
Bothwell 2 5.36x
Esh 2 21.72x
Falkirk 2 5.45x
Inveresk 2 12.96x
Kirkmichael 2 68.97x
Kirknewton 2 121.95x
Linthorpe 2 7.95x
New Monkland 2 4.92x
Paisley Middle Church 2 10.42x
Ramsgate 2 8.44x
Whitechapel London 2 4.77x
Wylye 2 277.78x
Aldershot 1 3.42x
Balfron 1 51.55x
Barrow In Furness 1 1.46x
Bothkennar 1 21.37x
Cheetham 1 2.66x
Crumpsall 1 8.41x
Eccleston In Prescot 1 3.95x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.44x
Kingarth 1 54.05x
Lesmahagow 1 6.87x
Newton 1 2.57x
Perth East Church 1 5.56x
Port Of Monteith 1 58.14x
Riccarton 1 20.83x
Row 1 6.76x
Sheffield 1 0.75x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 0.66x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Ann 6
Margaret 3
Sarah 3
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Elizabeth 2
Elizth. 2
Jane 2
Rose 2
Alice 1
Cathe. 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Georgina 1
Katie 1
M. 1
Marg. 1
Marian 1
Martin 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 7
James 5
Thomas 5
Joseph 4
Michael 4
George 2
Luke 2
Michal 2
Patrick 2
Thos. 2
Daniel 1
Henry 1
Owen 1
Patsy 1
Richard 1
Robert 1

Top occupations

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 Slaven households.

FAQ

Slaven surname: questions and answers

How common was the Slaven surname in 1881?

In 1881, 436 people were recorded with the Slaven surname. That placed it at #7,485 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Slaven surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,046 in 2016. That gives Slaven a modern rank of #5,577.

What does the Slaven surname mean?

A surname of Slavic origin, derived from the word "slava" meaning "glory" or "fame."

What does the Slaven map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Slaven 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.