This surname is derived from an occupation. 'the sloper,' a maker of slops. Sometimes a loose overcoat or garment, more generally large loose trousers.

'His overest sloppe is not worth a mite.' - Chaucer, Chanon Yemannes Tale.

'Item, the xxii daye paied to Cicyll for a payer of sloppes, for the Kinges Grace' - Privy Purse Expenses, Henry VIII, 1532.

Agatha le Slopere, Huntingdonshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

1610. John Sloper, Wiltshire: Register of the University of Oxford.

1615. Simon Sloper, Wiltshire: ibid.

1792. Married — William Sloper and Elizabeth North: St. George, Hanover Square.

'Ally Sloper' has immortalized this name.

A slop is a kind of cloak or mantle, also a buskin or boot much used in the XV. cent.-hence Sloper. English Surn. i. 112.

During the 17th century the Slopers were gentlefolk and well - to - do tradesmen in and around Marlborough, where the name still remains; there was a John Sloper of Monkton, gent., early in the same century (W.), and a family of the name resided in Winterbourne Monkton during the 17th century, to which belonged Walter Sloper, attorney (A.); Jeremiah Sloper was one of the Marlborough tradesmen, who, rather over 200 years ago, issued their own farthings and halfpence (W.). John Sloper was vicar of Broad Chalk in 1685 (H.); and Walter Sloper was Rector of West Dean in the beginning of last century (H.). Hoare also refers to the Warminster Slopers, a family of gentry residing there in the early part of the 17th century. Between 1658 and 1840, at least eight of the mayors of Devizes bore this name (B.), which is still represented in that town. Two centuries ago, a gentle family of Sloper resided in the parish of Hartpury in the adjacent county of Gloucester (Bigland's "Gloucestershire").