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Flemming History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Flemming History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany
Ireland
Scotland

The German surname Flemming emerged in the lands that formed the modern state of Lower Saxony, which is presently bordered by the North Sea, the Hartz mountains and the Elbe and Ems rivers. Lower Saxony was previously a medieval Saxon dukedom. The name Flemming, which is a local surname, reveals that the original bearer of the name once lived, held land, or was born in this beautiful region of Lower Saxony. In the Holy Roman Empire, hereditary surnames were adopted according to fairly general rules and after the 12th century, names that were derived from localities became increasingly widespread. Local names originally denoted the proprietorship of the village or estate. When coupled with the German preposition von, which means from or of, local names can indicate that the bearer of the name was an aristocrat. However, in modern times, the von is frequently dropped from the surname. The Flemming family originally lived in Flanders. In the Middle Ages, Flanders and other regions of the Netherlands enjoyed a considerable commercial intercourse with England, Germany and France. Consequently, many people from this region migrated to other European states.

Early Origins of the Flemming family

The surname Flemming was first found in Lower Saxony, where the family gained a significant reputation for its contributions to the emerging mediaeval society. The name became prominent as many branches of the family founded separate houses and acquired estates in various regions, always elevating their social status by their great contributions to society. The name originates from the German word "flame" meaning "flame."

Individual bearers of the name first mentioned in ancient chronicles include Ilias Flammic in Cologne around 1135, Pilgrimus von Flemminch in Austria in 1287, Tham Flemmingen in Pomerania in 1295, Conrad Flemingen in Pomerania in 1315, Dyle zum Fleminge in Frankfurt around 1333. The variation Vlemming mainly appears in chronicles of northern cities such as Luebeck, Rostock, Stralsund, and Barth around 1300.

Early History of the Flemming family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Flemming research. Another 324 words (23 lines of text) covering the years 1609, 1640, 1700 and 1745 are included under the topic Early Flemming History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Flemming Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Fleming, Flemming, Flaminc, Vleming, Flamen, Flaehming, Flehmig, Flehmke, Flemisch, Flemmig, Flaeming, Flaemming, Fleminge, Flaemisch, Vlemming, Flammic, Flemminch, Flemmingen and many more.

Early Notables of the Flemming family

More information is included under the topic Early Flemming Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Flemming Ranking

In the United States, the name Flemming is the 4,313^rd most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1

Flemming migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Flemming Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Alexander Flemming, who arrived in New England in 1754 2
John Flemming, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1772 2
James Flemming, aged 26, who arrived in Virginia in 1773 2
Christian Flemming, who arrived in America in 1777 2
Andrew Flemming, who landed in New York, NY in 1778 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Flemming Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

William Flemming, who landed in America in 1805 2
Thomas Flemming, who landed in New York, NY in 1812 2
Thomas Flemming, aged 55, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1813 2
William Flemming, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 2
Joseph S Flemming, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1821 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Flemming migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Flemming Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

James Flemming, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
Mr. Richard Flemming U.E. who settled in St. Andrews, New Brunswick c. 1784 3

Flemming Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Michael Flemming, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1825
Robert Flemming, aged 21, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Madawaska" in 1833
Andrew Flemming, aged 20, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Edward Reid" in 1833
Bridget Flemming, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1833
Margaret Flemming, aged 17, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "John & Mary" from Belfast, Ireland
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Flemming migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Flemming Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Ralph Flemming, British convict who was convicted in Durham, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bussorah Merchant" on 1st October 1829, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4
Mr. Michael Flemming, (b. 1800), aged 29, Irish tailor who was convicted in County Mayo, Ireland for life for burglary, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 2nd March 1829, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1838 5
John Flemming, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Elizabeth" in 1849 6
Catherine Flemming, aged 25, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Taymouth Castle" 7
Elizabeth Flemming, aged 15, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "William Stevenson" 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Flemming migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Flemming Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Richard John Flemming, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Randolph" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand in September 1850 9
Mrs. Emma Mary Flemming, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Randolph" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand in September 1850 9
Mr. George Spencer Flemming, (b. 1849), aged 1, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Randolph" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand in September 1850 9
Miss Emily Flemming, (b. 1846), aged 4, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Randolph" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand in September 1850 9
John Flemming, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "African" in 1860
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Flemming (post 1700) +

William Norman "Bill" Flemming (1926-2007), American television sports journalist, one of the original announcers for the ABC Sports show Wide World of Sports (1961-1998)
David Braxton "Dave" Flemming (b. 1976), American sportscaster
Brian Flemming (b. 1966), American film director and playwright
Arthur Sherwood Flemming (1905-1996), United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare between 1958 to 1961 and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
O. J. Flemming, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Oklahoma, 1912 10
Harry H. Flemming, American Republican politician, Candidate for Justice of New York Supreme Court 3rd District, 1935 10
Elizabeth H. Flemming, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Ohio, 1972 10
Edwin G. Flemming, American Republican politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from New York County 13th District, 1935 10
Arthur Sherwood Flemming (1905-1996), American Republican politician, Member, U.S. Civil Service Commission, 1939-48 10
Arthur S. Flemming, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Ohio, 1960 10
... (Another 10 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Flemming family +

Halifax Explosion

Mr. Patrick Flemming (1858-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 11
Mr. Joseph Flemming (1893-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who survived the Halifax Explosion (1917) but later died due to injuries 11

RMS Lusitania

Mr. Herbert Flemming, English Able-Bodied Seaman from Manchester, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 12

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bussorah-merchant
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ELIZABETH 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Elizabeth.htm
South Australian Register Thursday 4th May 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Taymouth Castle 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/taymouthcastle1854.shtml
South Australian Register Friday 2nd February 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) William Stevenson 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/williamstevenson1855.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 10) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/