NameCensus.

UK surname

Slough

A surname derived from the Middle English word for a muddy place or bog.

In the 1881 census there were 290 people recorded with the Slough surname, ranking it #9,946 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 365, ranked #12,721, down from #9,946 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Wheathampstead and Hemel Hempstead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Cambridgeshire, Kettering and Aylesbury Vale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Slough is 420 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.9%.

1881 census count

290

Ranked #9,946

Modern count

365

2016, ranked #12,721

Peak year

2002

420 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Slough had 290 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,946 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 365 in 2016, ranked #12,721.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 416 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Slough surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Slough surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Slough 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 158 #12,461
1861 historical 164 #14,188
1881 historical 290 #9,946
1891 historical 280 #11,665
1901 historical 375 #9,917
1911 historical 416 #9,028
1997 modern 387 #11,275
1998 modern 399 #11,354
1999 modern 389 #11,678
2000 modern 415 #11,109
2001 modern 398 #11,276
2002 modern 420 #11,041
2003 modern 377 #11,762
2004 modern 368 #12,001
2005 modern 353 #12,292
2006 modern 358 #12,234
2007 modern 356 #12,437
2008 modern 371 #12,155
2009 modern 380 #12,198
2010 modern 377 #12,529
2011 modern 369 #12,600
2012 modern 363 #12,592
2013 modern 364 #12,790
2014 modern 379 #12,483
2015 modern 358 #12,942
2016 modern 365 #12,721

Geography

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Where Sloughs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Wheathampstead, Hemel Hempstead and Luton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Cambridgeshire, Kettering, Aylesbury Vale, Herefordshire and St Albans. 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 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Wheathampstead Hertfordshire
4 Hemel Hempstead Hertfordshire
5 Luton Bedfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Cambridgeshire 002 East Cambridgeshire
2 Kettering 005 Kettering
3 Aylesbury Vale 021 Aylesbury Vale
4 Herefordshire 021 Herefordshire, County of
5 St Albans 004 St Albans

Forenames

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First names often paired with Slough

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Slough

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Slough surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Slough household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Slough is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Slough 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

Slough falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Slough

The surname SLOUGH has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "sloh," which meant a muddy or swampy area. This suggests that the name may have been originally used to refer to someone who lived near or worked in a marshy region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SLOUGH can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and land holdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Slo" and "Slou," indicating the variations in its pronunciation and spelling over time.

In the 13th century, the name SLOUGH was associated with several place names in England, such as Slough in Berkshire and Slough Green in Buckinghamshire. These place names likely originated from the same Old English root word and may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname SLOUGH was Richard de Slou, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1197. Another notable figure was John Slough, a merchant who lived in London during the 15th century and was involved in the wool trade.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname SLOUGH gained prominence in various parts of England. Sir John Slough (1556-1627) was a prominent landowner and Member of Parliament for Gloucester. William Slough (1592-1679) was an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works.

In the 18th century, the name SLOUGH was associated with several military figures. Captain John Slough (1720-1786) served in the British Army during the American Revolutionary War, while Lieutenant Colonel Slough (dates unknown) fought in the Napoleonic Wars.

As the centuries passed, the SLOUGH surname continued to spread across different regions of England and beyond. Notable individuals with this name include the British author John Slough (1828-1886), who wrote several novels and plays, and the American politician Edward Slough (1846-1923), who served as a member of the Kansas House of Representatives.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Slough families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Slough 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. Hertfordshire leads with 131 Sloughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 67.19x.

County Total Index
Hertfordshire 131 67.19x
Middlesex 48 1.70x
Bedfordshire 32 21.85x
Surrey 28 2.03x
Northamptonshire 9 3.38x
Huntingdonshire 8 14.24x
Kent 7 0.73x
Yorkshire 6 0.21x
Lancashire 5 0.15x
Warwickshire 5 0.70x
Berkshire 4 1.88x
Leicestershire 3 0.96x
Hampshire 2 0.34x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.26x
Worcestershire 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Albans St Peter in Hertfordshire leads with 37 Sloughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 562.31x.

Place Total Index
St Albans St Peter 37 562.31x
Luton 30 118.30x
Wheathampstead 21 933.33x
Chelsea London 17 19.94x
Flamstead 14 777.78x
Hemel Hempstead 14 159.27x
St Albans St Michael 13 596.33x
St Pancras London 13 5.71x
St Albans 10 250.00x
Geddington 9 1046.51x
Lambeth 8 3.24x
Southwark Christchurch 8 60.33x
Camberwell 7 3.87x
Brightside Bierlow 6 10.91x
Codicote 6 517.24x
Huntingdon St John 6 368.10x
East Barnet 5 129.20x
Finchley 5 46.13x
Sandridge 5 609.76x
Spotland 5 13.40x
Cookham 4 60.42x
Deptford St Paul 4 5.37x
Great Stanmore 4 314.96x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 7.03x
Rugby 3 31.09x
Birmingham 2 0.84x
Bushey 2 43.10x
Dunstable 2 44.44x
Kimpton 2 219.78x
Shoreditch London 2 1.63x
St Marylebone London 2 1.32x
Stoney Stanton 2 208.33x
Woolwich 2 5.61x
Abbots Langley 1 34.48x
Battersea 1 0.96x
Castle Donnington 1 38.46x
Conington 1 344.83x
Holdenhurst 1 6.57x
Huntingdon St Benedict 1 142.86x
Kensington London 1 0.64x
Kingsbury 1 136.99x
Newark Upon Trent 1 7.30x
Paddington London 1 0.96x
Redbourn 1 46.95x
Shrawley 1 222.22x
St Botolph Aldgate 1 25.91x
St George Hanover 1 2.71x
Swanscombe 1 23.04x
Weeke 1 56.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Sarah 12
Elizabeth 11
Emily 11
Eliza 9
Annie 7
Clara 7
Ellen 6
Emma 6
Alice 5
Margaret 5
Maria 5
Jane 4
Ada 3
Ann 3
Charlotte 3
Harriet 3
Lucy 3
Caroline 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Louisa 2
Martha 2
Matilda 2
Susan 2
B.V. 1
Baby 1
Betsy 1
Clare 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Everlyn 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Honour 1
Isabell 1
Jessie 1
Johanna 1
Julia 1
Letitia 1
Lillie 1
M.C. 1
M.H. 1
M.P. 1
Maryann 1
Nellie 1
Phoebe 1
Priscilla 1
Rosalie 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 19
George 15
Arthur 8
John 8
Henry 6
Joseph 6
Alfred 5
Edward 5
Frederick 5
James 5
Thomas 5
Charles 4
Albert 3
Walter 3
Ernest 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Adderley 1
Caleb 1
Cha.T. 1
Edmund 1
Elinshaw 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Gill 1
Horace 1
J. 1
J.W. 1
Jesse 1
Jessie 1
Kyhley 1
Louis 1
Mark 1
Mathew 1
Montague 1
Ruben 1
Sidney 1
Wilfred 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Slough surname: questions and answers

How common was the Slough surname in 1881?

In 1881, 290 people were recorded with the Slough surname. That placed it at #9,946 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Slough surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 365 in 2016. That gives Slough a modern rank of #12,721.

What does the Slough surname mean?

A surname derived from the Middle English word for a muddy place or bog.

What does the Slough map show?

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