Show ContentsSleigh History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Sleigh family

The surname Sleigh was first found in Essex, where Walter Sleh was listed in the Feet of Fines in 1219. Thomas Sleh, Slei, Slegh was listed in the Assize Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1219 and Robert Sley was listed in the Assize Rolls of Warwickshire in 1221. [1]

The "epithet sly did not primarily imply anything dishonourable; though like 'crafty' and 'cunning' it has since come to be taken in a bad sense. The Slys or Sleighs were skilful men - cunning of hand. We are informed that Sly was anciently a common name in Shakespeare's own town. " [2] The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 include: Ralph Sly in Hertfordshire; John Sley in Cambridgeshire; and John le Slege in Oxfordshire. [3]

The hamlet of Ash in Derbyshire was an ancient family seat at one time. "The place was the property of the Sleigh family, from whom it came to the Chethams, and subsequently to the Cottons." [4]

Early History of the Sleigh family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sleigh research. Another 153 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1271, 1275, 1317, 1574, 1674, 1679 and 1756 are included under the topic Early Sleigh History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sleigh Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Sleigh, Sleach, Sleich, Sleech, Sliach, Sleath, Sleith, Sleth, Sleight, Sley, Slie and many more.

Early Notables of the Sleigh family

Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sleigh Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Sleigh family to Ireland

Some of the Sleigh family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Sleigh migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Sleigh Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Henry Sleigh, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1762 [5]
Sleigh Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Sleigh, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1851 [5]
  • Robert Sleigh, who settled in Philadelphia in 1870
  • A. H. Sleigh, aged 43, who landed in America, in 1895
Sleigh Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • George Sleigh, aged 29, who landed in America from Down, Ireland, in 1907
  • Jennie Annie Sleigh, aged 36, who settled in America from Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1907
  • William Law... Sleigh, aged 41, who landed in America from Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1907
  • James Sleigh, aged 55, who immigrated to the United States from Birmingham, England, in 1909
  • Lavinia Sleigh, aged 54, who landed in America from Morecambe, England, in 1911
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Sleigh migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Sleigh Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Mary Sleigh, aged 41, who settled in Vancouver, Canada, in 1920

Australia Sleigh migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Sleigh Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Joseph Sleigh, English convict who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Burrell" on 22nd July 1830, arriving in New South Wales [6]
  • Mary Sleigh, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Rajasthan" in 1838 [7]

Contemporary Notables of the name Sleigh (post 1700) +

  • Tom Sleigh, American poet, dramatist, essayist and academic; awarded the 2008 Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award, an Academy Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, The Shelley Award and Guggenheim Foundation grant
  • Sylvia Sleigh (b. 1935), Welsh-born, American realist painter from Llandudno
  • Bernard Sleigh (1872-1954), English mural painter, stained-glass artist, illustrator and wood engraver
  • Colonel Arthur B. Sleigh (1821-1869), Canadian-born British army officer, travel writer and founder of the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph; shortly after the first edition, he sold the paper to his publisher, Joseph Moses Levy
  • Violet Sleigh (b. 1935), Singapore-born, model, World War II prisoner of war, the first Miss Malaya, crowned "Miss Max Factor of Malaya" in 1953
  • Julian Sleigh (1927-2013), Italy-born, South African Christian Community priest, councillor, founding member of Camphill in South Africa
  • Daniel "Dan" Sleigh (b. 1938), South African multiple award winning novelist who writes in Afrikaans
  • William Campbell Sleigh (1818-1887), Irish born, British lawyer and politician, Serjeant-at-law in 1868
  • Field Marshal Frederick Sleigh Roberts Bt, VC, KG, KP, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, PC (1832-1914), one of the most successful commanders of the Victorian era


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  5. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/burrell
  7. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) RAJASTHAN 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838Rajasthan.htm


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