NameCensus.

UK surname

Slevin

Of Irish origin, a surname indicating descent from one who lived near a steep slope or hillside.

In the 1881 census there were 88 people recorded with the Slevin surname, ranking it #21,211 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 811, ranked #6,830, up from #21,211 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wigan, Glasgow and Monkwearmouth (Fulwell), Jarrow (Monkton and Jarrow). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include St. Helens, Coventry and Southampton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Slevin is 821 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 821.6%.

1881 census count

88

Ranked #21,211

Modern count

811

2016, ranked #6,830

Peak year

2000

821 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Slevin had 88 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,211 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 811 in 2016, ranked #6,830.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 142 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Slevin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Slevin surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Slevin 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 40 #26,118
1861 historical 33 #29,814
1881 historical 88 #21,211
1891 historical 98 #24,313
1901 historical 129 #19,735
1911 historical 142 #18,487
1997 modern 782 #6,659
1998 modern 800 #6,748
1999 modern 808 #6,740
2000 modern 821 #6,633
2001 modern 818 #6,528
2002 modern 811 #6,695
2003 modern 773 #6,844
2004 modern 785 #6,771
2005 modern 774 #6,783
2006 modern 772 #6,826
2007 modern 778 #6,851
2008 modern 769 #6,964
2009 modern 779 #7,031
2010 modern 810 #6,949
2011 modern 790 #7,023
2012 modern 782 #6,984
2013 modern 790 #7,036
2014 modern 803 #6,983
2015 modern 806 #6,896
2016 modern 811 #6,830

Geography

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Where Slevins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wigan, Glasgow, Monkwearmouth (Fulwell), Jarrow (Monkton and Jarrow), Warrington and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to St. Helens, Coventry, Southampton and County Durham. 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 Wigan Lancashire
2 Glasgow Lanark
3 Monkwearmouth (Fulwell), Jarrow (Monkton and Jarrow) Durham
4 Warrington Lancashire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 St. Helens 019 St. Helens
2 Coventry 031 Coventry
3 Coventry 020 Coventry
4 Southampton 014 Southampton
5 County Durham 031 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Slevin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Slevin

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Slevin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Slevin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Slevin 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

Slevin is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Slevin falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Slevin 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Slevin

The surname Slevin is of Irish origin, specifically from the Gaelic language. It is believed to have originated in the 16th century or earlier in the northern counties of Ireland, particularly in counties Antrim and Derry. The name Slevin is derived from the Gaelic words "sliabh" meaning mountain, and a personal name like "Caomhan" or "Eoghan".

Historically, the Slevin surname was also spelled in various ways, such as Sleavin, Slevin, Sleven, and Slevan. These variations were common due to the translation of Gaelic names into English, as well as regional dialects and the preference of individual scribes who recorded the names.

In the 16th century, the Slevin name can be found in the Fiants of the Reign of Elizabeth I, which were records of official royal pardons and appointments in Ireland. The name also appears in the Hearth Money Rolls of the late 17th century, which were tax records listing householders in Ireland.

One of the earliest known individuals with the Slevin surname was John Sleven, who was born around 1620 in County Antrim, Ireland. He was a landowner and is mentioned in the Rent Rolls of the Antrim Estate in the mid-17th century.

Another notable figure was Patrick Slevin, born in 1745 in County Derry, Ireland. He was a Catholic priest and scholar who published several works on Irish history and literature in the late 18th century.

In the 19th century, James Slevin (1806-1890) was a prominent Irish-American politician and lawyer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1851 to 1855.

Mary Slevin (1845-1924), born in County Antrim, Ireland, was a renowned author and poet. She published several collections of poetry and novels, including "Poems of a Country Girl" and "The Bells of Antrim".

William Sleavin (1865-1941), born in County Derry, Ireland, was a successful businessman and philanthropist in New York City. He founded the Sleavin Textile Company and donated generously to various charitable causes.

The Slevin surname has also been associated with certain place names in Ireland, such as Slieve Beagh, a mountain range in counties Fermanagh and Monaghan, and Slievenacloy, a townland in County Antrim.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Slevin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Slevin 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. Durham leads with 28 Slevins recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.97x.

County Total Index
Durham 28 10.97x
Lancashire 25 2.45x
Lanarkshire 13 4.68x
Kirkcudbrightshire 7 56.36x
Middlesex 7 0.82x
Leicestershire 6 6.31x
Hampshire 1 0.57x
West Lothian 1 7.73x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hedworth Monkton Jarrow in Durham leads with 14 Slevins recorded in 1881 and an index of 126.58x.

Place Total Index
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 14 126.58x
Kirkmabreck 7 1296.30x
Maryhill 7 128.91x
Clerkenwell London 6 29.62x
Leicester St Margaret 6 25.85x
Warrington 6 49.71x
Bishop Auckland 5 145.77x
Everton 5 15.40x
Heworth 4 79.52x
Toxteth Park 4 11.60x
Ashton In Makerfield 3 103.45x
Barony 3 4.27x
Broughton In Salford 3 32.22x
Ryton 3 333.33x
Bothwell 2 26.56x
Darlington 2 20.28x
Liverpool 2 3.23x
Windle 2 34.90x
Alverstoke 1 15.70x
Bathgate 1 35.59x
Govan 1 1.46x
Shoreditch London 1 2.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Elizabeth 4
Ellen 3
Margaret 3
Bridget 2
Catherine 2
Isabella 2
Sarah 2
Annie 1
Frances 1
J. 1
Julia 1
M. 1
Rosana 1
S. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 9
Edward 3
Francis 3
Peter 3
Charles 2
E. 2
Michael 2
Patrick 2
Thomas 2
Alfred 1
Bernard 1
Hugh 1
J. 1
Joseph 1
Louis 1
Owen 1
Richard 1
William 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 Slevin households.

FAQ

Slevin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Slevin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 88 people were recorded with the Slevin surname. That placed it at #21,211 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Slevin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 811 in 2016. That gives Slevin a modern rank of #6,830.

What does the Slevin surname mean?

Of Irish origin, a surname indicating descent from one who lived near a steep slope or hillside.

What does the Slevin map show?

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