Surname Slegte - Meaning and Origin

Slegte: What does the surname Slegte mean?

The last name Slegte is of Dutch origin. It is derived from the Middle Dutch word meaning "slack," which is also related to the Middle Dutch terms for "lazy" or "slothful." The name has been present in the Netherlands since the seventeenth century and is most common today in the northern regions of the country.

The name Slegte likely associated the bearer with tendencies of laziness or inactivity. However, in old Dutch families, the name could also be viewed as a positive attribute: laziness was seen by some as being a sign of wisdom and patience. Such individuals were seen as having the calmness to problem solve efficiently.

The name Slegte can be seen as quite unique in the Netherlands. There are very few people in the country who bear the name and it is a rare to encounter it outside of the Netherlands. It could be a great reflection of the Dutch heritage of the family and remind its members of their family legacy.

Slegte: Where does the name Slegte come from?

The last name Slegte is most commonly found in the Dutch-speaking areas of Europe. It is primarily prevalent in the Netherlands and Belgium, with small numbers also having settled in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and France.

The origin of the last name Slegte can be traced back to the Middle Ages. In Dutch, 'slegte' means 'mean' or 'miserable', and it is believed the name originally referred to a person of humble origins. Over the years, however, it has become a surname.

It is estimated that there are over 500 people with the last name Slegte currently living in the Netherlands. There are also slightly smaller populations in Belgium, Germany, Austria, France, and Switzerland. In the United States, there are only a handful of people with the last name, as even fewer emigrated than to other areas of Europe.

Overall, the last name Slegte is a quite uncommon one, with its greatest concentrations of people found in the Dutch-speaking countries of Europe.

Variations of the surname Slegte

The Slegte surname has a range of common variants and spellings, including Sleghte, Sleacht, Slicht, Slegt, Slegts, Slecgt, Slechte, Sleckt, Sleicht, and Slegtsen. This last variant is slightly uncommon and has Dutch origins, derived from "slegtenvorst," the Dutch word for lord or ruler.

Additionally, Slegte surname may be spelled as Slaght, Sleght, Slecht, Sleit, Sleight, Slite, Slayt, Slacghte, Slacht, or even Sleighte. All of these variants are derived from an archaic spelling of “slegte” and can all be traced back to the same origin. The etymology of the surname suggests that it originally designated someone of noble descent.

The Slegte surname is also found in the Netherlands as Slokker and Slokkert, with the Dutch word “slok” meaning “swallow” or “gulp” and the suffix ert denoting the possessive form of the word. This variant is much less common compared to Slegte, however, and is usually found among Dutch-Americans in the United States.

There is also a Scottish variant of the Slegte surname, which is spelled Slegert. This form of the name likely originated from a different Dutch word, “slegert” meaning “rider” or “man of horse.” This variant is exceedingly rare and it is seldom seen outside of Scotland.

Overall, the Slegte surname is a relatively common Dutch surname with a range of variants and other names of similar origin. All of the spellings are derived from the same Dutch word, with the suffixes usually indicating nobility or virtue. Despite their common origin, each of the variants has a distinct spelling and meaning that can help to trace the family's lineage back to its country of origin.

Famous people with the name Slegte

• Antoinette Slegte:A Dutch television presenter
• EJ Slegte:A Danish footballer
• Frans Slegte:A Dutch professional cyclist
• Guido Slegte:A Dutch football manager
• Justin Slegte:An American football player
• Maarten Slegte:A Dutch archery champion
• Rachel Slegte:An American television actress
• Rudolf Slegte:A Dutch television producer
• Sander Slegte:A Dutch basketball player
• Wim Slegte:A Dutch artist

Other surnames

Slegt