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

Slayton, 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 Slayton surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Slayton in America

Slayton is the 4969th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Slayton surname appeared 7,069 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 Slayton.

We can also compare 2010 data for Slayton 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 Slayton

The surname Slayton has its origins in England, believed to have derived from an Old English place name referring to a location with a muddy or sloppy terrain. It is closely related to the Old English word "slaec," meaning "muddy or wet place."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Slayton can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Slactun." This entry suggests that the name was already in use in parts of England during the 11th century.

In the 13th century, records show the name spelt as "Slacton" and "Slakton," further indicating its evolution from the original Old English place name. These variations highlight the regional differences in pronunciation and spelling during that time period.

The earliest known bearer of the surname Slayton was John de Slacton, who was recorded in the Curia Regis Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1224. This document provides evidence of the surname's usage in the early 13th century.

Another notable figure with the surname Slayton was Sir Richard Slayton, a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in Staffordshire during the 14th century. He was born around 1320 and played a significant role in local affairs and disputes over land ownership.

During the 16th century, the surname Slayton appeared in various records, including parish registers and tax rolls. One notable example is William Slayton, a wealthy merchant from London, who was born in 1542 and held significant influence in the city's trade circles.

In the 17th century, the name Slayton was found in the records of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, indicating that individuals bearing this surname had emigrated from England to the New World. One such individual was Thomas Slayton, who arrived in Boston in 1638 and later settled in Watertown, Massachusetts.

Another prominent figure with the surname Slayton was Sir John Slayton, a renowned military commander who served in the English Civil War during the mid-17th century. He was born in 1610 and played a crucial role in several battles, earning recognition for his strategic leadership.

As the surname Slayton spread across different regions, various spellings emerged, such as Slaton, Slayten, and Slaytoun, reflecting the diverse regional dialects and linguistic influences. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remained rooted in the Old English place name reference.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Slayton

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

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 Slayton 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 Slayton 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 Slayton was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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