Slighter History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Slighter family

The surname Slighter was first found in Gloucestershire in either Upper Slaughter or Lower Slaughter. Contrary to the rather obvious trade name as one would expect, this local name dates back to these parishes which in turn, date back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where they were collectively known as Sclostre. 1 The place name is thought to have literally meant "muddy place," from the Old English word "slohtre." 2 Another source believes that the place name was "perhaps derived from the name of a river." 3

A rather rare surname in early days, the first on record was Robert de Scloctres who was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1191. Eynsham, Oxfordshire was home to Robert de Sloutre in 1251 and Mariota de la Sloghtere was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296. Thomas le Slaghterere was listed in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1296 and Henry le Sclaufterer was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1327. 4

Because of the varied villages of the two latter entries, the author believes that these point the origin of the name as occupational in nature from the Middle English word "slahter" meaning "slaughter."

The family is "from one of the two parishes so called co. Gloucester; perhaps derived from the name of a river. There is a place called Slaughterford co. Wiltshire. Slaughter may also sometimes be the same as Slatter, which has been derived from the Danish, slagter, a butcher. Slaughter is the name of a butcher at Notting Hill, Middlesex." 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Ballizus de Sloutre in Gloucestershire at that time. John de Sloghtre was listed in the Close Rolls, 26 Edward III (during the 26th year of King Edward III's reign.) 5

Early History of the Slighter family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Slighter research. Another 193 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1327, 1360, 1381, 1655, 1673, 1682, 1691, 1729, 1755, 1781, 1791 and 1803 are included under the topic Early Slighter History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Slighter Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Slaughter, Sloughter, Slighter, Sclater and others.

Early Notables of the Slighter family

Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Slighter Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Slighter migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Slighter Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johannes Slighter, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1738 6

Slighter migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Slighter Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. John Slighter U.E. who settled in Home District [York County], Ontario c. 1786 he served in Barton's Regiment 7

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X