Fleming
What is the origin of the last name Fleming?
Meaning and origin
The last name Fleming has a fascinating origin deeply rooted in medieval Scotland. Derived from the Old Norse personal name "Flaemingr," meaning a person from Flanders, the surname denotes a connection to the medieval Flemish settlers who migrated to Scotland during the 12th and 13th centuries.
The longer story
The last name Fleming has roots in both Scotland and Ireland. It is a patronymic surname derived from the given name "Fleming" which means "a man from Flanders". Flanders is a region in modern-day Belgium and the Netherlands. The name is associated with the medieval Flemish people who lived in the region.
The surname Fleming is predominantly found in Scotland, specifically in the Lowlands region. The family name has ancient origins, dating back to the 12th century, and is closely linked to Scottish history and nobility.
Outside of Scotland, the name Fleming can also be found among Irish families. During the medieval period, many Flemish settlers migrated to Ireland, particularly in the 12th century, and assimilated into Irish society. As a result, the surname Fleming became established among the Irish population.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
#342
Fleming was the 342nd most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 90,677 people, about 31 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Fleming
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Fleming is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.