Show ContentsSlam History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the Slam family lived among the Strathclyde people of the Scottish/English Borderlands. Their name is derived from the Gaelic personal name Sluaghadhán. Slam is a patronymic surname, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. The surname Slam is derived from the given name Sluaghadhán, which derived from the Gaelic word, sluaghadh, and meant, raid.

Early Origins of the Slam family

The surname Slam was first found in Kirkcudbrightshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Chille Chuithbheirt), part of the present day Council Area of Dumfries and Galloway, former county in Southwestern Scotland, where they held a family seat. Johnn Slowane of Garoche was a juror on assize at Kirkcudbright in 1508.

Other early records include a William Slowane, who held a tenement near Dalkeith, in Midlothian in 1504.

The name has also existed in Ireland since at least the 15th Century, when bearers of Sloane emigrated to eastern Ulster, in Armagh and Down. However, there is some debate that the name also has native Irish roots, and had existed in Ireland prior to this emigration.

One source notes that the name is "from Irish O'Sluaghain, for O'Sluaghadain, 'descendant of SLaghadan,' probably a variant of O'Sluaghodhaigh, from the MIr. personal name Sluagadach, leader of a military expedition.' " [1]

Early History of the Slam family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Slam research. Another 195 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1567, 1531, 1542, 1562, 1565, 1567, 1568, 1590, 1613, 1616, 1659, 1660, 1753, 1660, 1753, 1660, 1753, 1660, 1727, 1741 and are included under the topic Early Slam History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Slam Spelling Variations

The variation in the spelling of Medieval names is a result of the lack of spelling rules in the English language prior to the last few hundred years. Before that time, scribes spelled according to sound, often varying the spelling of name within a single document. Slam has appeared as Sloan, Sloane, Slowan and others.

Early Notables of the Slam family (pre 1700)

Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Slam Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Slam family to Ireland

Some of the Slam family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 111 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Slam family

As the persecution of Clan families continued, they sailed for North America in increasing numbers. In most cases, they found the freedom and opportunity they sought. Land was often available and the American War of Independence allowed Scots an opportunity to solidify their independence from the English crown. These settlers and their ancestors went on to play essential roles in the forging of the nations of the United States and Canada. Among them: Ann Sloan who settled in Maryland in 1722; James Sloan settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1772; Mrs. Sloan settled in Savannah, Georgia in 1823.



  1. 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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