NameCensus.

UK surname

Slim

An Arabic surname possibly derived from the word "salam" meaning peace or safety.

In the 1881 census there were 287 people recorded with the Slim surname, ranking it #10,014 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 328, ranked #13,831, down from #10,014 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Harborne, Rowley Regis and Nottingham St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sandwell, Kensington and Chelsea and Bromley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Slim is 473 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.3%.

1881 census count

287

Ranked #10,014

Modern count

328

2016, ranked #13,831

Peak year

1911

473 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Slim had 287 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,014 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 328 in 2016, ranked #13,831.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 473 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Slim surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Slim surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Slim 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 214 #9,898
1861 historical 145 #15,715
1881 historical 287 #10,014
1891 historical 325 #10,426
1901 historical 314 #11,285
1911 historical 473 #8,179
1997 modern 312 #13,182
1998 modern 348 #12,585
1999 modern 361 #12,347
2000 modern 347 #12,642
2001 modern 337 #12,702
2002 modern 347 #12,699
2003 modern 339 #12,714
2004 modern 336 #12,848
2005 modern 309 #13,552
2006 modern 319 #13,318
2007 modern 313 #13,648
2008 modern 312 #13,764
2009 modern 312 #14,040
2010 modern 331 #13,769
2011 modern 332 #13,608
2012 modern 344 #13,121
2013 modern 354 #13,079
2014 modern 344 #13,426
2015 modern 335 #13,622
2016 modern 328 #13,831

Geography

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Where Slims are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Harborne, Rowley Regis, Nottingham St Mary, Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sandwell, Kensington and Chelsea, Bromley and Shropshire. 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 Harborne Worcestershire
2 Rowley Regis Staffordshire
3 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
4 Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) Staffordshire
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sandwell 029 Sandwell
2 Sandwell 033 Sandwell
3 Kensington and Chelsea 019 Kensington and Chelsea
4 Bromley 004 Bromley
5 Shropshire 004 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Slim

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Slim

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Slim surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Slim household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Slim 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

Slim 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

Slim falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Slim is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Slim

The surname SLIM is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "slimic," meaning thin or slender. It likely emerged as a descriptive nickname during the Middle Ages, referring to a person's physical appearance or build.

The earliest recorded instances of the SLIM surname can be found in various medieval records and documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable mention is in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1285, which lists a "Ricardus Slym."

During the 14th century, variations of the name began to appear, such as Slymme and Slymme. These spellings were often used interchangeably due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions at the time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the SLIM surname was John Slym, a merchant from London who lived in the late 15th century. Records indicate that he was involved in the wool trade and held properties in the city.

In the 16th century, the SLIM surname was also found in various parts of England, including the counties of Essex, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire. One notable figure from this period was William Slymme, a landowner and farmer from Ipswich, Suffolk, born around 1530.

As the surname spread across England, it was sometimes associated with certain place names, such as Slimbridge in Gloucestershire and Slimfold in Sussex. However, it is unclear whether these locations directly influenced the surname or vice versa.

In the 17th century, several notable individuals bore the SLIM surname. One was Thomas Slim, a poet and playwright from London, who lived from 1620 to 1692. Another was Richard Slim, a merchant and landowner from Dorset, born in 1645.

Moving into the 18th century, the SLIM surname continued to be found throughout England. One prominent figure was John Slim, a banker and financier from Yorkshire, who lived from 1718 to 1789.

The 19th century saw the SLIM surname spread further afield, with bearers found in various parts of the British Empire. One example was Charles Slim, a British Army officer who served in India and was born in 1838.

Overall, the surname SLIM has a long and varied history, originating from an Old English word and evolving over centuries. Its bearers can be found in various regions of England, as well as in other parts of the world influenced by British migration and colonization.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Slim families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Slim 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. Staffordshire leads with 80 Slims recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.50x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 80 8.50x
Warwickshire 69 9.81x
Worcestershire 47 12.90x
Nottinghamshire 35 9.31x
Middlesex 24 0.86x
Gloucestershire 9 1.64x
Derbyshire 6 1.37x
Somerset 4 0.89x
Lancashire 3 0.09x
Montgomeryshire 3 4.69x
Surrey 2 0.15x
Hampshire 1 0.17x
Norfolk 1 0.23x
Oxfordshire 1 0.58x
Yorkshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 51 Slims recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.33x.

Place Total Index
Aston 51 26.33x
Nottingham St Mary 34 34.96x
Rowley Regis 32 121.95x
Oldbury 30 167.41x
Harborne 19 62.96x
Birmingham 18 7.68x
Cheltenham 9 21.32x
Tipton 9 31.22x
Wednesbury 9 38.25x
Warley Wigorn 8 689.66x
Mile End Old Town 7 15.90x
Chelsea London 6 7.14x
Bedminster 4 9.48x
Dudley 4 9.03x
Kingswinford 4 11.70x
The Hill 4 170.94x
Derby St Werburgh 3 11.90x
Penkridge 3 123.46x
Pool 3 62.24x
West Bromwich 3 5.56x
Bow London 2 5.63x
Chadderton 2 12.36x
Derby St Alkmund 2 15.28x
Fulham London 2 4.94x
St Pancras London 2 0.89x
Stoke Newington London 2 9.20x
Alvechurch 1 64.52x
Ashover 1 46.08x
Camberwell 1 0.56x
Clapham 1 2.87x
Downham Market 1 33.90x
Hackney London 1 0.64x
Mansfield 1 7.69x
North Meols 1 3.09x
Oxford St Mary Virgin 1 322.58x
Portsmouth 1 7.59x
Sheffield 1 1.14x
Shoreditch London 1 0.83x
Smallthorne 1 28.65x
St Giles In Fields 1 10.40x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Sarah 10
Ann 8
Elizabeth 8
Annie 6
Hannah 5
Catherine 4
Emma 4
Florence 4
Harriet 4
Lucy 4
Anne 3
Eliza 3
Jane 3
Abigail 2
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Alice 2
Caroline 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Laura 2
Lucretia 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Maud 2
Nellie 2
Phillis 2
Rebecca 2
Sabina 2
Amplias 1
Beatrice 1
Christabella 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Elisa 1
Ethel 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Helen 1
Infant 1
Janle 1
Leah 1
Lilly 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Phebe 1
Pheobe 1
Phoebe 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 18
William 18
Thomas 17
James 9
Joseph 9
Frederick 7
Arthur 6
Albert 5
Benjamin 5
George 5
Samuel 5
Alfred 3
Frank 3
Harry 3
Henry 3
Walter 3
Wm. 3
Benjm. 2
Ernest 2
Alexander 1
Charles 1
Christoper 1
Cornelius 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Emanuel 1
Enoch 1
Fredk. 1
Noah 1
Owen 1
Philip 1
Richard 1
Thos. 1
Thos.H. 1

FAQ

Slim surname: questions and answers

How common was the Slim surname in 1881?

In 1881, 287 people were recorded with the Slim surname. That placed it at #10,014 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Slim surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 328 in 2016. That gives Slim a modern rank of #13,831.

What does the Slim surname mean?

An Arabic surname possibly derived from the word "salam" meaning peace or safety.

What does the Slim map show?

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