Show ContentsSlayden History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Slayden family

The surname Slayden was first found in Lancashire at Sladen, a hamlet in the parish of Littleborough. 1

Today, Littleborough (and Sladen) are part of Greater Manchester in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale. Little records can be found of the Sladen place name. One of the first records of the name was found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 where Johannes Sladen was listed. 1

While this is the generally understood origin of the name, another source notes the following: "this family, seated on the coast of Kent in the early part of the XVII. century, and hardly found elsewhere until within the XIX., are presumed to have come from the town of Schleiden in the government of Aix-la-Chapelle in Rhenish Prussia. John Sleidan, the historian of the Reformation in Germany, a native of that town, was deputed to the English court by the German reformers in 1545, and it is probable that others of his name and religion afterwards sought a home in this country. Sladden, Sladdon, and Slodden, may he variations of the name; and this seems the more probable, inasmuch as the continental town is pronounced as if written with two d's. There seems, however, to be no recognized kindred between the Sladens and the Sladdens. The name of Schleiden is still well known in Germany. A Thos de Slayden was mayor of Winchester in 1222." 2

In some ways, the last entry of "Thos de Slayden," negates this author's theory as he held the position of mayor in 1222, at least three hundred years before! However, the reference to Kent is agreeable, as we will soon explore.

Early History of the Slayden family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Slayden research. Another 121 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1455, 1487, 1816, 1827, 1834, 1837, 1840, 1841, 1842, 1849, 1850, 1852, 1853, 1854, 1860, 1867, 1875, 1884, 1886, 1887 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Slayden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Slayden Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Sladen, Sladean, Slayden, Sladon, Slaydon, Sleighdon, Sleighden, Sladden, Slayton, Sleyton, Sleydon, Slaidon, Slaiton, Sladden and many more.

Early Notables of the Slayden family

Distinguished members of the family include Sir Charles Sladen (1816-1884), Australian statesman, born at Ripple Park, Kent, in 1816, was second son of John Baker Sladen of Ripple Park, Kent, a deputy-lieutenant for the Cinque ports, by Ethelred, eldest daughter of Kingsman Baskett St. Barbe of London. He was educated at Shrewsbury school and Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where he entered as a scholar in 1834 and graduated B.A. in 1837. He served his articles with a proctor in Doctors' Commons, and proceeded LL.B. in 1840 and LL.D. in December 1867.In 1841 Sladen emigrated to Victoria, landing on 14 Feb. 1842, and...
Another 169 words (12 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Slayden Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Slayden Ranking

In the United States, the name Slayden is the 13,918th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3


United States Slayden migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Slayden Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • J.L. Slayden, aged 39, who immigrated to the United States from Glasgow, in 1892
  • James L. Slayden, aged 41, who settled in America, in 1894
  • Mrs. Slayden, aged 33, who immigrated to the United States, in 1894
Slayden Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mary A. Slayden, who landed in America, in 1905
  • Rena Slayden, aged 55, who immigrated to the United States, in 1909
  • Mrs. James Slayden, aged 45, who settled in America, in 1911
  • James Slayden, aged 56, who landed in America, in 1911
  • Allen M. Slayden, aged 60, who immigrated to America, in 1919
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Slayden (post 1700) +

  • James Slayden (b. 1941), birth name of Jim Lewis, American astrologer, writer and entrepreneur, best known for developing the technique of Astrocartography
  • James Luther Slayden (1853-1924), American politician, United States Representative from Texas, eponym of Slayden, Texas
  • Brigadier-General Herbert Slayden Clarkson (1891-1974), American Inspector General US North African Theater of Operations (1943-1944) 4


The Slayden Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Vive ut vivas
Motto Translation: Live that you may live for ever


  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. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, November 3) Herbert Clarkson. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Clarkson/Herbert_Slayden/USA.html


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