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

Slocum, 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 Slocum surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Slocum in America

Slocum is the 3899th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Slocum surname appeared 9,102 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Slocum.

We can also compare 2010 data for Slocum 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 Slocum

The surname Slocum originated in England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "sloh" meaning "muddy place" and "cumb" meaning "valley" or "hollow." This suggests that the name likely referred to a person who lived in a muddy valley or hollow area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Slocum can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279, where it was spelled as "Slohcombe." This early spelling variation provides insight into the name's evolution over time.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1332, where it was listed as "Slokombe." This spelling variation further reinforces the connection between the name and its geographical origins.

During the same century, the Slocum family established a presence in Somerset, where they held lands and properties. This is evident from records such as the Kirby's Inquest, which mentions a "John Slocombe" in 1428.

As the name spread across England, it underwent various spelling variations, including Slocombe, Slokombe, and Slokcombe, before eventually settling on the modern spelling of Slocum.

One notable figure with the surname Slocum was Giles Slocum (c. 1586-1652), who immigrated to America aboard the ship Anne in 1623 and settled in Massachusetts. He is considered one of the earliest Slocum ancestors in the New World.

Another prominent individual was John Slocum (1663-1748), a Quaker preacher and founder of the settlement of Slocum's Ridge in New Jersey. His descendants played a significant role in the early development of the region.

In the 18th century, Joshua Slocum (1844-1909) gained fame as the first person to sail single-handedly around the world. His epic voyage, completed in 1898 aboard the sloop Spray, is documented in his book "Sailing Alone Around the World."

During the same period, William Slocum (1835-1884) made a name for himself as a Union Army officer during the American Civil War, achieving the rank of Brigadier General.

In more recent history, John Jermain Slocum (1914-1997) was a renowned American businessman and philanthropist, best known for his leadership roles at various companies, including the United States Trust Company and the Grolier Society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Slocum

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

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

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

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