NameCensus.

UK surname

Sloan

A topographic surname referring to a person who lived near a slough or wetland.

In the 1881 census there were 2,829 people recorded with the Sloan surname, ranking it #1,577 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6,235, ranked #1,081, up from #1,577 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Girvan, New Cumnock and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cumnock Rural, Lochmaben and Girvan Glendoune.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sloan is 6,238 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 120.4%.

1881 census count

2,829

Ranked #1,577

Modern count

6,235

2016, ranked #1,081

Peak year

2014

6,238 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sloan had 2,829 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,577 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 6,235 in 2016, ranked #1,081.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,595 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Sloan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sloan surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Sloan 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 1,593 #1,808
1861 historical 1,581 #1,804
1881 historical 2,829 #1,577
1891 historical 2,987 #1,574
1901 historical 3,595 #1,557
1911 historical 1,622 #2,993
1997 modern 5,718 #1,142
1998 modern 5,833 #1,158
1999 modern 5,911 #1,149
2000 modern 5,933 #1,143
2001 modern 5,816 #1,142
2002 modern 6,043 #1,126
2003 modern 5,874 #1,127
2004 modern 5,894 #1,123
2005 modern 5,817 #1,124
2006 modern 5,864 #1,111
2007 modern 5,907 #1,113
2008 modern 5,969 #1,112
2009 modern 6,108 #1,116
2010 modern 6,225 #1,116
2011 modern 6,147 #1,115
2012 modern 6,144 #1,089
2013 modern 6,211 #1,099
2014 modern 6,238 #1,100
2015 modern 6,226 #1,090
2016 modern 6,235 #1,081

Geography

Back to top

Where Sloans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Girvan, New Cumnock, Govan Combination, Gateshead and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cumnock Rural, Lochmaben, Girvan Glendoune, Mid Nithsdale and Girvan Ailsa. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Girvan Ayr
2 New Cumnock Ayr
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cumnock Rural East Ayrshire
2 Lochmaben Dumfries and Galloway
3 Girvan Glendoune South Ayrshire
4 Mid Nithsdale Dumfries and Galloway
5 Girvan Ailsa South Ayrshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Sloan

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Sloan

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Sloan, 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 Sloan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Sloan 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Sloan 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

Sloan 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

Sloan 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 Sloan 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 Sloan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Sloan

The surname Sloan has its origins in the Scottish Highlands and is derived from the Gaelic word "sloinneadh," which means "descendant" or "clan." It is believed that the name first appeared in the 12th century and was most prevalent in the regions of Argyll and the Hebrides.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sloan can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1264, where a person named Gilmor Sloan is mentioned. Another early reference is in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a document containing the names of Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England during the Scottish Wars of Independence.

The Sloan surname has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as Sloan Bank and Sloan's Pend in Edinburgh, and Sloan's Glen in Ayrshire. These place names may have contributed to the spread and adoption of the surname in different regions.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the surname Sloan. One of the earliest was John Sloan (c. 1370-1456), a Scottish prelate who served as Bishop of Dunkeld and played a significant role in the negotiations between Scotland and England during the reign of King James I.

Another prominent figure was Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753), an Irish physician and naturalist who was one of the founders of the British Museum and the Chelsea Physic Garden in London. His vast collection of natural history specimens and books became the foundation of the British Museum's collections.

In the realm of literature, John Sloan (1871-1951) was an American painter and etcher known for his works depicting urban life in New York City during the early 20th century. He was a member of the Ashcan School and is considered one of the most important American realist painters of his time.

Alfred P. Sloan (1875-1966) was an American businessman and executive who served as the president and chairman of General Motors Corporation. He is credited with pioneering many management techniques and organizational principles that became widely adopted in the automotive industry and beyond.

Finally, John Sloan Dickey (1907-1991) was an American educator and diplomat who served as the president of Dartmouth College from 1945 to 1970. He played a significant role in expanding the college's academic programs and fostering international relations during his tenure.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Sloan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sloan 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 702 Sloans recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.89x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 702 7.89x
Ayrshire 483 23.46x
Lancashire 383 1.17x
Cumberland 232 9.80x
Renfrewshire 151 7.08x
Kirkcudbrightshire 93 23.35x
Durham 86 1.05x
Northumberland 81 1.98x
Dunbartonshire 64 8.66x
Dumfriesshire 62 10.20x
Middlesex 56 0.20x
Midlothian 51 1.38x
Stirlingshire 47 4.63x
Cheshire 44 0.72x
Angus 40 1.57x
Wigtownshire 32 8.76x
Yorkshire 23 0.08x
West Lothian 17 4.10x
Caernarfonshire 15 1.35x
Buckinghamshire 10 0.60x
Kent 10 0.11x
Argyllshire 9 1.18x
Bedfordshire 9 0.63x
Sussex 8 0.17x
Warwickshire 8 0.12x
Clackmannanshire 7 3.08x
Glamorgan 7 0.15x
Lincolnshire 7 0.16x
Oxfordshire 7 0.41x
Staffordshire 7 0.08x
Surrey 7 0.05x
Aberdeenshire 6 0.24x
East Lothian 6 1.65x
Roxburghshire 6 1.20x
Worcestershire 6 0.17x
Buteshire 5 3.00x
Berkshire 3 0.15x
Essex 3 0.06x
Royal Navy 3 0.92x
Somerset 3 0.07x
Derbyshire 2 0.05x
Devon 2 0.03x
Fife 2 0.12x
Gloucestershire 2 0.04x
Isle of Man 2 0.39x
Kinross-shire 2 2.88x
Leicestershire 2 0.07x
Perthshire 2 0.16x
Shropshire 2 0.08x
Flintshire 1 0.14x
Herefordshire 1 0.09x
Wiltshire 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. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 230 Sloans recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.45x.

Place Total Index
Govan 230 10.45x
Liverpool 128 6.46x
Barony 124 5.51x
Glasgow 101 6.39x
Cleator 63 63.91x
New Monkland 51 19.39x
West Derby 49 5.13x
Rutherglen 44 33.71x
Dalry 41 42.32x
Girvan 41 79.33x
New Cumnock 39 109.24x
West Greenock 39 10.19x
Dundee 37 3.89x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 37 15.14x
Toxteth Park 35 3.17x
Ayr 33 33.96x
Old Monkland 33 9.35x
Birkenhead 29 5.99x
Coylton 29 99.28x
Ochiltree 28 197.74x
Everton 27 2.60x
Douglas 25 97.47x
Kirkoswald 25 148.72x
Cockermouth 24 48.13x
Maybole 24 38.29x
East Greenock 23 11.43x
Auckinleck 22 34.52x
Workington 22 16.22x
Egremont 21 37.19x
Hamilton 21 8.46x
Sorn 21 51.93x
Eastwood 20 15.23x
Kirkdale 20 3.64x
Riccarton 20 64.39x
Urr 20 38.61x
Caldewgate 19 14.64x
Kilmarnock 19 7.75x
South Leith 19 4.58x
Arlecdon 18 28.58x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 18 1.21x
Salford 18 1.87x
New Kilpatrick 16 22.75x
Abbey 15 4.61x
Falkirk 15 6.32x
Manchester 15 1.02x
Kelton 13 39.74x
Kirkmabreck 13 74.67x
Bothwell 12 4.97x
Cardross 12 13.52x
Muirkirk 12 24.82x
Polmont 12 32.03x
Stair 12 136.67x
Westoe 12 2.59x
Barrow In Furness 11 2.48x
Carluke 11 13.62x
Irvine 11 19.23x
Mile End Old Town 11 2.53x
Whithorn 11 39.53x
Bathgate 10 11.12x
Bonhill 10 8.43x
Dalziel 10 10.45x
Dumfries 10 16.68x
Gateshead 10 1.63x
Holywood 10 98.52x
Linslade 10 61.39x
Maryhill 10 5.74x
Bedford St Paul 9 9.21x
Chopwell 9 59.17x
Crosscanonby 9 11.49x
Crossmichael 9 71.49x
Heworth 9 5.58x
Hulme 9 1.32x
Kirkcudbright 9 27.31x
Mauchline 9 38.04x
Newton On Ayr 9 14.60x
Old Cumnock 9 19.63x
Row 9 9.41x
South Shields 9 12.35x
Symington 9 136.16x
Tongland 9 115.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 110
Elizabeth 42
Margaret 31
Ellen 30
Jane 30
Sarah 27
Catherine 24
Ann 19
Annie 15
Eliza 10
Agnes 9
Hannah 9
Martha 9
Alice 8
Frances 5
Isabella 5
Maria 5
Susan 5
Bridget 4
Fanny 4
Harriett 4
Jessie 4
Margret 4
Margt. 4
Rose 4
Eliz. 3
Elizth. 3
Emma 3
Grace 3
Kate 3
Theresa 3
Ada 2
Barbara 2
Caroline 2
Esther 2
Florence 2
Harriet 2
Louisa 2
M. 2
Maggie 2
Marion 2
Matilda 2
Rebecca 2
Susannah 2
Betsy 1
Dinah 1
Edith 1
Effie 1
Eleanor 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 98
James 59
William 58
Thomas 35
Robert 30
Edward 21
George 16
Patrick 14
Joseph 13
Charles 11
Henry 11
Peter 11
Daniel 9
Richard 8
Michael 7
Samuel 7
Alexander 6
David 6
Andrew 5
Arthur 5
Francis 5
Martin 5
Alfred 4
Wm. 4
Jacob 3
Anthony 2
Bernard 2
Frederick 2
Fredk. 2
Hans 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Horace 2
Hugh 2
Nicholas 2
Owen 2
Septimus 2
Terence 2
Walter 2
Archibald 1
Barney 1
Benjamin 1
Chas. 1
Edwd. 1
Ernest 1
Josep 1
Lawrence 1
Matthew 1
Reginald 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Sloan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sloan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,829 people were recorded with the Sloan surname. That placed it at #1,577 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sloan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 6,235 in 2016. That gives Sloan a modern rank of #1,081.

What does the Sloan surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to a person who lived near a slough or wetland.

What does the Sloan map show?

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