SLATER

The surname Slater is an English occupational name that originates from the medieval trade of working with slate. Slate is a fine‑grained rock that was commonly employed for roofing and flooring throughout the Middle Ages, and a slater was a craftsman skilled in cutting, shaping and laying this material.

Its earliest linguistic roots lie in the pre‑8th‑century French word esclate, meaning “slate”, which was introduced into the British Isles by the Norman invaders in 1066. The name was then combined with the Old English agent suffix -er, meaning “one who works with”, to produce an occupational description that became hereditary when descendants followed in their ancestor’s trade.

Documentary evidence of the name dates back to the mid‑13th century. The first recorded instance is that of Thomas le Sclatere in the “Occupation register of Worcester” dated 1255, a period within the reign of King Henry III (1216‑1272). Subsequent early examples include Roger Sclatiere and Walter Sclatter, both recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire and Berkshire in 1279, and Thomas Slater listed in the Subsidy Tax rolls of Yorkshire in 1297.

Throughout the following centuries the surname appeared under several orthographic variants, notably Slator, Sclater, Slatter, and Slater. A 1542 entry records the marriage of George Slater and Jone Umfrey at St. Margaret's, Westminster, London, illustrating the continued use of the name within England.

The name was also carried across the Atlantic during the early years of the English colonies. One of the earliest settlers in the American colonies was John Slater, aged 22, who appears in the original muster of the inhabitants of the Colony of Virginia in 1607. He had arrived aboard the ship George in 1617, preceding the Pilgrim Fathers’ arrival on the Mayflower by three years.

In summary, the Slater surname, firmly rooted in English occupational nomenclature, reflects a lineage of craftsmen who engaged with one of the most utilitarian building materials of the medieval period. Its documented presence in charters, tax rolls and colonial records attests to its longevity and to the spread of its bearers from the British Isles to the New World.

Typical given names associated with the Slater surname

Male

• Andrew
• Christopher
• David
• James
• John
• Mark
• Michael
• Paul
• Richard
• Robert

Female

• Christine
• Elizabeth
• Emma
• Helen
• Julie
• Karen
• Margaret
• Mary
• Nicola
• Sarah
• Susan

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

How to communicate the surname Slater in...

Braille

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Morse

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Did you know?

According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Slater are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Hobnob.

Surname type: Occupational name

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Famous people named Slater

• Nigel Slater - Food writer, journalist and broadcaster
• Emma Slater - Dancer and choreographer
• Christian Slater - American actor
• John Slater - Actor (1916 to 1975)
• Samuel Slater - -American industrialist (1768 to 1835)
• Luke Slater - Musician
• Jim Slater - Investor (1929 to 2015)
• Ann Pasternak Slater - Scholar and translator
• Ashley Slater - Musician
• Bill Slater - Football player (1927 to 2018)
• Craig Slater - Football player
• Rodney Slater - Musician
• Alistair Slater - Soldier (1956 to 1984)
• Stuart Slater - Football player
• Toby Slater - Singer-songwriter
• Simon Slater - Actor
• Robbie Slater - Australian soccer player
• Chris Slater - Football player
• Regan Slater - Football player
• Ed Slater - Rugby union player

Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.

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