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

Slemp, 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 Slemp surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Slemp in America

Slemp is the 22158th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Slemp surname appeared 1,166 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Slemp.

We can also compare 2010 data for Slemp 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 Slemp

The surname SLEMP is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "slæp" or "sleep," which was likely a nickname or a descriptive name given to someone who had a habit of sleeping excessively or was known for their relaxed and easygoing nature.

The earliest recorded instances of the SLEMP surname date back to the 13th century, with some of the earliest known bearers of the name residing in the counties of Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall in the southwest of England. The name was also found in various spellings, such as Slempe, Slemphe, and Slemper, indicating regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are no direct references to the SLEMP surname. However, it is possible that some individuals with similar-sounding names or nicknames might have been recorded under different spellings or variations.

One of the earliest known individuals with the SLEMP surname was John Slempe, who was born in Somerset around 1320. Records show that he was a farmer and landowner in the village of Charlton Mackrell. Another notable figure was William Slemper, a merchant from Bristol who lived in the late 15th century and was involved in the wool trade with the Netherlands.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the SLEMP surname became more widespread across England, particularly in the counties of Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall. One notable individual from this period was Richard Slemp, born in 1587 in Taunton, Somerset. He was a respected clergyman and served as the rector of the parish church in Pitminster, Somerset, from 1624 until his death in 1657.

In the 18th century, the SLEMP surname also made its way to North America, with some individuals bearing the name settling in the colonies along the eastern seaboard. One such individual was Jonathan Slemp, born in 1742 in Virginia, who fought in the Revolutionary War and later became a successful farmer and landowner in the Shenandoah Valley region.

Another notable figure was Elizabeth Slemp, born in 1798 in Somerset, England. She emigrated to Canada in the early 19th century and became a prominent figure in the community of Cookstown, Ontario, where she was known for her philanthropic efforts and her advocacy for the rights of women and children.

As the centuries progressed, the SLEMP surname continued to spread throughout the English-speaking world, with individuals bearing the name making contributions in various fields, including politics, business, and the arts. However, it remains a relatively uncommon surname, with pockets of concentration in certain regions, particularly in the southwestern counties of England and parts of North America.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Slemp

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

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

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

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