Slipper History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Slipper surname is thought to be a habitational name taken from any of the several places so named, such as Slape in Dorset or Sleap in Shropshire. 1 2 The word "slape" comes from Middle English, and means a "slippery" or "miry" place."

Alternatively, the name could have been occupational for a "sword-slyper, a cutler, one whose principal work was to whet swords. " 3 "Slyper is the name of a diamond-cutter in London. Hence no doubt the surname Sleeper. " 4

Early Origins of the Slipper family

The surname Slipper was first found in Kent where John le Slepere was found in the Curia Regis Rolls for 1212. A few years later, Hugh le Slepere was listed in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1232. 5

In Oxfordshire, we found Simon le Slepar in the Hundredorum Rolls for 1273. 2 All these entries point to the occupational nature of the name at that time.

Later, Johannes Slipar was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. 2

Early History of the Slipper family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Slipper research. Another 135 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1276, 1574, 1600, 1729 and 1749 are included under the topic Early Slipper History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Slipper Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Slape, Sleep, Sleap, Slape, Slepe, Sleip, Sleape, Sleapa, Sleeper and many more.

Early Notables of the Slipper family

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

Migration of the Slipper family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Lancelot Sleep, who arrived in Maryland sometime between 1640 and 1648; Thomas Slape, an emigrant in bondage, who arrived in Maryland in 1738; as well as Mary Sleep, who arrived in St. John, N.B. in 1834..

Citations +

Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
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)