NameCensus.

UK surname

Slight

An English surname derived from the archaic word "sleight" meaning thin or slender.

In the 1881 census there were 768 people recorded with the Slight surname, ranking it #4,815 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 613, ranked #8,566, down from #4,815 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Boston (incl. Boston allotments) and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Reigate and Banstead, East Riding of Yorkshire and Parkhead and Sighthill.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Slight is 824 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 20.2%.

1881 census count

768

Ranked #4,815

Modern count

613

2016, ranked #8,566

Peak year

1891

824 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Slight had 768 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,815 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 613 in 2016, ranked #8,566.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 824 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Slight surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Slight surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Slight 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 574 #4,436
1861 historical 596 #4,445
1881 historical 768 #4,815
1891 historical 824 #4,924
1901 historical 780 #5,756
1911 historical 604 #6,806
1997 modern 608 #8,068
1998 modern 627 #8,132
1999 modern 612 #8,336
2000 modern 611 #8,322
2001 modern 585 #8,438
2002 modern 606 #8,401
2003 modern 594 #8,391
2004 modern 598 #8,369
2005 modern 580 #8,470
2006 modern 569 #8,612
2007 modern 580 #8,576
2008 modern 570 #8,734
2009 modern 583 #8,773
2010 modern 604 #8,749
2011 modern 601 #8,682
2012 modern 588 #8,735
2013 modern 604 #8,703
2014 modern 607 #8,721
2015 modern 613 #8,592
2016 modern 613 #8,566

Geography

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Where Slights are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Boston (incl. Boston allotments), Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Edinburgh and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Reigate and Banstead, East Riding of Yorkshire, Parkhead and Sighthill, Northumberland and Burnfoot. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Boston (incl. Boston allotments) Lincolnshire
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Reigate and Banstead 018 Reigate and Banstead
2 East Riding of Yorkshire 028 East Riding of Yorkshire
3 Parkhead and Sighthill City of Edinburgh
4 Northumberland 001 Northumberland
5 Burnfoot Scottish Borders

Forenames

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First names often paired with Slight

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Slight

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Slight surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Slight household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Slight is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Slight is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Slight falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Slight 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 Slight, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Slight

The surname SLIGHT is of English origin, deriving from the Middle English word "sleght," which meant a skillful or clever person. This name likely emerged in the 13th or 14th century as a descriptive nickname for someone who was considered particularly adept or skillful at a particular trade or profession.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname SLIGHT can be traced back to the 14th century in various county records and tax rolls from the English counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Slight, a resident of York, who was mentioned in the Yorkshire Poll Tax records of 1379.

In the 16th century, the SLIGHT surname can be found in the parish records of several villages in Lincolnshire, including Spalding and Boston. During this period, variations in spelling such as Slighte and Slyght were also common.

One notable historical figure bearing the SLIGHT surname was William Slight, a merchant and alderman of the City of London in the early 17th century. He served as the Master of the Worshipful Company of Drapers in 1619.

Another prominent individual was Sir Benjamin Slight (1687-1758), a British naval officer who served during the War of the Austrian Succession. He achieved the rank of Vice Admiral and was knighted for his distinguished service.

In the 18th century, the SLIGHT surname spread to other parts of England, including the counties of Hertfordshire and Hampshire. One individual of note was Samuel Slight (1725-1801), a renowned English landscape artist who was born in London and is known for his paintings of rural scenes.

The 19th century saw the SLIGHT surname extend its reach to other parts of the British Isles, including Scotland and Ireland. One notable bearer of the name was Sir John Slight (1842-1921), a Scottish industrialist and philanthropist who made his fortune in the coal and iron industries.

Throughout history, the SLIGHT surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Slight Acres in Suffolk and Slight Farm in Lincolnshire, reflecting the presence of families bearing this name in these locations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Slight families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Slight 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. Lincolnshire leads with 221 Slights recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.40x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 221 18.40x
Middlesex 86 1.14x
Hampshire 68 4.42x
Midlothian 59 5.86x
Nottinghamshire 53 5.23x
Northumberland 38 3.40x
Yorkshire 37 0.50x
Norfolk 20 1.73x
East Lothian 19 19.10x
Sussex 17 1.34x
Roxburghshire 16 11.76x
Lanarkshire 15 0.62x
Berwickshire 14 15.39x
Hertfordshire 13 2.51x
Surrey 13 0.36x
Gloucestershire 12 0.81x
Kent 11 0.43x
Bedfordshire 9 2.31x
Cumberland 8 1.24x
West Lothian 7 6.19x
Staffordshire 6 0.24x
Lancashire 4 0.04x
Warwickshire 4 0.21x
Derbyshire 3 0.26x
Essex 3 0.20x
Leicestershire 3 0.36x
Northamptonshire 2 0.28x
Royal Navy 2 2.23x
Argyllshire 1 0.48x
Ayrshire 1 0.18x
Berkshire 1 0.18x
Denbighshire 1 0.35x
Oxfordshire 1 0.22x
Perthshire 1 0.30x
Selkirkshire 1 1.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 27 Slights recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.95x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 27 8.95x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 24 5.93x
Nottingham St Mary 21 8.02x
Scotter 20 727.27x
Hampstead London 16 13.68x
Kelso 15 110.62x
St Swithin Lincoln 15 79.45x
Boston 13 35.68x
Gainsborough 13 45.92x
Brighton 12 4.70x
Cammeringham 11 2750.00x
Enfield 11 22.32x
Ormiston 11 416.67x
Barony 10 1.63x
Goxhill 10 337.84x
Millbrook 10 25.79x
South Leith 10 8.83x
Manthorpe Cum Little 9 98.04x
Miningsby In Boston 9 1475.41x
Southampton St Mary 9 9.30x
Wilsford 9 508.47x
Alverstoke 8 14.35x
Caldewgate 8 22.58x
Elswick 8 8.97x
Ossington 8 1666.67x
St Marylebone London 8 1.99x
Ancroft 7 178.12x
Beeston 7 60.19x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 7 25.96x
Inveresk 7 25.70x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 7 20.19x
Lambeth 7 1.07x
Luton 7 10.40x
Martin In Horncastle 7 3888.89x
St Peterat Arches 7 510.95x
Thimbleby 7 875.00x
Addlethorpe 6 952.38x
Bottesford 6 674.16x
Bromley London 6 3.63x
Crichton 6 213.52x
Kensington London 6 1.44x
Lewisham 6 4.39x
South Stoneham 6 17.96x
Sprowston 6 117.65x
Wheatley 6 234.38x
Alnwick 5 26.03x
Amber Hill 5 495.05x
Bathgate 5 20.36x
Garthorpe 5 347.22x
Great Grimsby 5 6.56x
Ingoldmells 5 806.45x
Kirk Ella 5 549.45x
Leake 5 90.91x
Mile End Old Town 5 4.22x
Newington 5 24.39x
Paddington London 5 1.81x
Sheffield 5 2.11x
Shoreditch London 5 1.54x
Snitter 5 1388.89x
South Thoresby 5 1190.48x
St Pancras London 5 0.83x
Stoke Upon Trent 5 1.86x
Thornton Curtis 5 413.22x
Twigworth 5 1063.83x
Wrangle 5 167.22x
Birmingham 4 0.63x
Duddingston 4 19.80x
Dunse 4 46.35x
Essendon 4 254.78x
Glasgow 4 0.93x
Haddington 4 27.23x
Honingham 4 454.55x
Hornsey 4 4.21x
Keelby 4 209.42x
Ladykirk 4 353.98x
Lauder 4 79.52x
Newark Upon Trent 4 10.99x
Skegness 4 116.28x
Woodborough 4 174.67x
Balby Cum Hexthorpe 3 33.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 45
Elizabeth 25
Sarah 22
Alice 19
Ann 11
Annie 10
Emily 10
Emma 9
Ellen 8
Jane 8
Eliza 7
Margaret 7
Charlotte 5
Edith 5
Lucy 5
Maria 5
Martha 5
Ada 4
Agnes 4
Anne 4
Clara 4
Gertrude 4
Kate 4
Louisa 4
Matilda 4
Betsy 3
Fanny 3
Florence 3
Hannah 3
Harriett 3
Jessie 3
Susannah 3
Amy 2
Anna 2
Beatrice 2
Bertha 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Frances 2
Georgina 2
Isabella 2
Lizzie 2
Rose 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Eadith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizath. 1
Harriott 1
Tno 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Slight surname: questions and answers

How common was the Slight surname in 1881?

In 1881, 768 people were recorded with the Slight surname. That placed it at #4,815 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Slight surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 613 in 2016. That gives Slight a modern rank of #8,566.

What does the Slight surname mean?

An English surname derived from the archaic word "sleight" meaning thin or slender.

What does the Slight map show?

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