Slater is an English surname derived from the occupation of a slater, a tradesman who works with slate.
Some notable individuals and fictional characters with the surname include:
In arts and entertainment
Christian Slater (born 1969), American actor
David Slater (born 1962), American singer-songwriter
David Slater, author of Killing for Culture
David J. Slater, British nature photographer known for monkey selfies
Glenn Slater (born 1968), American lyricist
Gordon Slater (carillonneur) (born 1950), Canadian bassoonist, conductor and organist Gordon Archbold Slater (1896–1979), English cathedral organist Harriet Slater (born 1994), English actress Harrison Slater, American writer, pianist, and educator Helen Slater (born 1963), American film actor and singer-songwriter James T. Slater, American songwriter Jason Slater (1971–2020), American record producer J. D. Slater (born 1955), filmmaker and composer John Slater (actor) (1916–1975), English actor John Slater (musician), British heavy metal guitarist with Rise to Addiction and Blaze Bayley Joseph Slater, Jr. (1782–1837), British portrait painter and draughtsman Joseph Slater Sr. (1750–1805), British painter, father of Joseph Slater Jr. Lorna Slater, Canadian-born Scottish politician Luke Slater (born 1968), British musician Mary Jo Slater (born 1946), American casting director and producer Montagu Slater (1902–1956), English writer Nigel Slater (born 1958), British food writer, journalist and broadcaster Peter Slater (sculptor) (1809–1860), Scottish sculptor and portrait artist Robert Slater (1943–2014), American author and journalist Rodney Slater (musician) (born 1941), with Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band Sharon Slater, Irish historian and author Simon Slater, British actor Stuart Slater (born 1945), musician from Liverpool also known as Stu James, see Stephanie de Sykes
In politics
Bill Slater (1890–1960), Australian lawyer, politician and diplomat
Courtenay Slater (1933–2017), Chief Economist for the US Department of Commerce
Fred J. Slater (1885–1943), New York politician
George A. Slater (1867–1937), New York politician and judge
Harry Slater (politician) (1863–1936), Canadian politician
Howard R. Slater (1917-1987), American politician and lawyer
Jack Slater (politician) (1927–1997), in South Australian parliament
James H. Slater (1826–1899), United States Representative and Senator from Oregon John Slater (British politician) (1889–1935), British Conservative MP for Eastbourne John Slater (Canadian politician) (1952–2015), Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia John Slater (New Zealand politician), with New Zealand National Party, later Citizens and Ratepayers Now John J. Slater Jr. (1925–1998), American lawyer and politician in Massachusetts Joseph Slater, Baron Slater (1904–1977), British Labour Party politician Kent Slater (born 1945), Illinois politician and judge Richard Slater (1634–1699), English politician Rodney E. Slater (born 1955), United States Secretary of Transportation Samuel S. Slater (1870–1916), New York politician Thomas C. Slater (1945–2009) American politician
In science and academia
Don Slater (born 1954), British sociologist
Edward Slater (1917–2016), aka Bill Slater, Australian biochemist at University of Amsterdam Eliot Slater (1904–1983), British psychiatrist and eugenicist Florence Wells Slater (1864–1941), American entomologist and schoolteacher Henry H. Slater (1851–1934), British priest and naturalist James Kirkwood Slater (1900–1965), British neurologist John C. Slater (1900–1976), American physicist and theoretical chemist John Samuel Slater, British professor of civil engineering Lauren Slater (born 1963), American psychologist and writer Lucy Joan Slater, British mathematician Noel Slater, British mathematician and astronomer Philip Slater, American actor, writer and sociologist Rebeccah Slater, British neuroscientist and academic Terry Slater (geographer), British academic William Kershaw Slater (1893–1970), president of the Royal Institute of Chemistry