where did the surname slipper originate from?

Answer 1

Hey Elaine,

Swyrich.com says:

Origin: English

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

First found in Shropshire where they were anciently seated as Lords of the Manor.

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.
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While I like this site, and it does provide some insight, using other sources to back this up is highly adviseable. The LDS Family Search site agrees that ENGLISH is an origin for many by this name. But, there are also other places where people come from with this name, and some older than the English names.
--------- for example --------
METTE KIRSTINE SLIPPER -
Gender: Female Christening: 28 JUN 1809 Vor Frue, Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark
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108. Jacoba
Gender: Female Christening: 20 MAY 1643 Lederzeele, Nord, France
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ANNETJE SLIPPER -
Gender: Female Birth: < 1743>

So, you need to trace your Slipper tracks back up the genealogy branch they came from one person at a time to know for sure, OR you need to do a DNA project and match with migration patterns of this name. Anyway, some people are content with the information you have now. Hope you keep looking.

Answer 2

Slipper

Early examples:
William Sliperfe, c.1248 (Select Documents of the English Lands of the Abbey of Bec)
Laurence Slyper, 1332 (Sussex Subsidy Rolls)

A derivative of the Middle English "slipe" meaning "to polish" or "to sharpen", probably a sword-sharpener. Compare with William Suerdsliper, 1313 (Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield).