Find out how popular the last name Slate is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Slate.

Slate, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Slate surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Slate in America

Slate is the 5796th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Slate surname appeared 5,969 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Slate.

We can also compare 2010 data for Slate to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Slate

The surname SLATE is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "slat," which referred to a flat piece of rock or slate used for roofing. This name likely originated as a occupational surname for someone who worked with slate, such as a roofer or a quarry worker.

The earliest known record of the surname SLATE dates back to the 13th century in England. One of the earliest recorded instances is in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which mentions a person named William le Slattere.

During the Middle Ages, people were often identified by their occupation or place of origin. The surname SLATE may have also derived from a place name, such as Slate Hill or Slate Quarry, indicating that the original bearer of the name lived in or near an area where slate was mined or quarried.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are several references to places with names related to slate, such as "Slatburn" and "Slatedelai," suggesting the presence of slate quarries or deposits in these areas.

One notable figure with the surname SLATE was William SLATE, born around 1580 in England. He was a puritan minister who emigrated to America in the 17th century and became one of the founders of the town of Hadley, Massachusetts.

Another historical figure was John SLATE, born in 1642 in England. He was a prominent merchant and landowner in colonial Virginia and served as a member of the House of Burgesses, the colonial legislature of Virginia.

In the 18th century, a man named Joseph SLATE, born in 1720 in England, was a noted English architect and surveyor. He designed several notable buildings, including the Shire Hall in Monmouth, Wales.

The surname SLATE also has connections to the English Civil War. Colonel Richard SLATE, born around 1610, was a prominent Parliamentary officer who fought against the Royalist forces during the conflict.

In the 19th century, one of the most famous individuals with the surname SLATE was John SLATE, born in 1828 in England. He was a renowned artist and engraver, known for his intricate engravings of landscapes and architectural subjects.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Slate

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Slate.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Slate was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Slate has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Slate was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Slate, please contact us.

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