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Show ContentsSlager History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The ancestry of the name Slager dates from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from when the family lived in the village of Slack in the county of Yorkshire. The original bearers of the surname Slager were named due to their close proximity to a place where the road becomes less steep. The surname was originally derived from the Old English word slagg, which denoted such as place. 1 2

"The word slack signifies valley, a small shallow dell. Black, slak, slake, an opening in the higher part of a hill or mountain, where it becomes less steep, and forms a sort of pass; a gap or narrow pass between two hills or mountains." 3

Early Origins of the Slager family

The surname Slager was first found in Yorkshire where "this is an ancient name; it designates the site of a Saxon royal residence in the north division of the West Riding, and as a surname it was represented by Adam Slach in Cambridgeshire in the time of Edward I. " 4

The Yorkshire heritage can be of no doubt, but we must look further south to Lincolnshire to find the first record of the family. The Pipe Rolls of 1195 include an entry for Gerebod le Slac. 5 Back in Yorkshire, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 have three entries for the family: Johannes del Slak; Thomas de Slake; and Johannes Sclake. All three held lands there at that time. 1

"The Slacks of Derbyshire are numerous in the Derby district. In 1674, Arthur Slack gave £40 to the town of Buxton (G.); and about the same time Robert Slack resided at Hayfield in this neighbourhood (Earwaker's "East Cheshire"). The name is still represented in the Buxton district on the Staffordshire border. Slack is the name of a place in the parish of Ashover. Thomas Slack was rector of Bolton, Yorkshire, in 1680. The present Slacks of this county have their principal home in the Macclesfield district. In 1662 Nicholas Slack held an estate called Dunge in Kettleshulme; Mr. Hewitt Slack was a Stockport surgeon in the first half of last century (E.). The Slacks are also established in Derbyshire, Cumberland, Staffordshire, and Nottinghamshire, and further reference will be found to them under one or more of those counties. " 4

In Scotland, the name is "recorded in Dumfriesshire. Of local origin, perhaps from the old lands of Slake or Slack in the parish of Roberton, Roxburghshire." 6

Early History of the Slager family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Slager research. Another 114 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1379, 1579, 1587, 1900 and 1902 are included under the topic Early Slager History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Slager Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Slager have been found, including Slack, Slacke, Slach, Slagg, Slag, Slak and others.

Early Notables of the Slager family

More information is included under the topic Early Slager Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Slager family to Ireland

Some of the Slager family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Slager migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Slager, or a variant listed above:

Slager Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Abraham Slager, aged 10, who immigrated to the United States, in 1892
  • Jacob Slager, aged 25, who landed in America, in 1892
  • Gertrude Slager, aged 23, who immigrated to America, in 1893
Slager Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Alexander Louis Slager, aged 2, who landed in America, in 1904
  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
  3. Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
  4. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  5. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  6. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
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