NameCensus.

UK surname

Slimm

A surname possibly referring to a slim or thin person.

In the 1881 census there were 55 people recorded with the Slimm surname, ranking it #25,862 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 186, ranked #20,575, up from #25,862 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Winchester, Walsall and Sheffield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Slimm is 188 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 238.2%.

1881 census count

55

Ranked #25,862

Modern count

186

2016, ranked #20,575

Peak year

2014

188 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Slimm had 55 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,862 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 186 in 2016, ranked #20,575.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 93 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Slimm surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Slimm surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Slimm 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 28 #28,274
1861 historical 28 #30,405
1881 historical 55 #25,862
1891 historical 50 #30,253
1901 historical 93 #23,689
1911 historical 66 #26,249
1997 modern 151 #21,034
1998 modern 150 #21,665
1999 modern 155 #21,375
2000 modern 162 #20,735
2001 modern 154 #21,122
2002 modern 163 #20,767
2003 modern 157 #21,026
2004 modern 163 #20,685
2005 modern 160 #20,899
2006 modern 169 #20,294
2007 modern 162 #21,115
2008 modern 163 #21,238
2009 modern 167 #21,383
2010 modern 175 #21,186
2011 modern 168 #21,563
2012 modern 174 #21,065
2013 modern 177 #21,170
2014 modern 188 #20,503
2015 modern 188 #20,417
2016 modern 186 #20,575

Geography

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Where Slimms are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Winchester, Walsall, Sheffield and Dudley. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Winchester 013 Winchester
2 Walsall 018 Walsall
3 Sheffield 014 Sheffield
4 Dudley 006 Dudley
5 Dudley 020 Dudley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Slimm

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Slimm

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Slimm, 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 Slimm surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Slimm 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, Slimm 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

Slimm 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

Slimm 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 Slimm is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Slimm

The surname SLIMM is believed to have originated in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "slimu," which means "slimy" or "muddy," likely referring to a person who lived in a marshy or swampy area.

One of the earliest known references to the SLIMM name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where a person named "Willelmus Slymme" is mentioned. This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

In the 14th century, the SLIMM name appeared in various records, including the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, where a "Johannes Slymme" is listed. This suggests that the name had spread across different regions of England by this time.

A notable figure bearing the SLIMM surname was Sir John Slimm (1520-1589), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the City of London during the Tudor period. He was a member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers and served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1579.

Another significant individual was William Slimm (1670-1743), an English clergyman and author who published several theological works, including "A Treatise on the Sacraments" and "The Christian's Guide to Eternal Life."

In the 18th century, the SLIMM name can be found in various parish records, such as the baptismal record of Robert Slimm in 1732 at St. Mary's Church in Nottinghamshire.

The SLIMM surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Slimm's Cross in Bedfordshire and Slimm's Farm in Oxfordshire, further indicating the geographical spread and influence of this family name.

Throughout history, the SLIMM name has been spelled in various ways, including Slym, Slymme, and Slime, reflecting the evolution of language and regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Slimm families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Slimm 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. Worcestershire leads with 22 Slimms recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.30x.

County Total Index
Worcestershire 22 30.30x
Staffordshire 8 4.26x
Hampshire 5 4.39x
Warwickshire 5 3.57x
Lancashire 4 0.61x
Channel Islands 3 18.21x
Cheshire 3 2.44x
Caernarfonshire 2 8.90x
Derbyshire 2 2.30x
Northamptonshire 2 3.82x
Middlesex 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dudley in Worcestershire leads with 15 Slimms recorded in 1881 and an index of 169.88x.

Place Total Index
Dudley 15 169.88x
West Bromwich 8 74.49x
Oldbury 7 196.08x
South Hayling 5 2500.00x
Birmingham 4 8.56x
Brinnington 3 260.87x
St Peter Port 3 98.36x
Claylane 2 165.29x
Little Lever 2 238.10x
Northampton Priory St 2 63.69x
Ynyscynhaiarn 2 190.48x
Aston 1 2.59x
Barrow In Furness 1 11.15x
Mile End Old Town 1 11.39x
Over Darwen 1 18.98x

Top female names

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

Name Count
James 5
Joseph 5
Thomas 4
William 3
Charles 2
George 2
John 2
Alfred 1
Edward 1
Frederick 1
Henry 1
Jesse 1
Willm.H. 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 Slimm households.

FAQ

Slimm surname: questions and answers

How common was the Slimm surname in 1881?

In 1881, 55 people were recorded with the Slimm surname. That placed it at #25,862 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Slimm surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 186 in 2016. That gives Slimm a modern rank of #20,575.

What does the Slimm surname mean?

A surname possibly referring to a slim or thin person.

What does the Slimm map show?

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