Show ContentsFlaxman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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  • England
Flaxman Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Flaxman

What does the name Flaxman mean?

The name Flaxman is an occupational name for someone who was a 'the flaxman,' a dresser of flax, derived from the Middle English, flax and the Anglo-Saxon fleax. 1

"Flaxman is a trade name that denotes a dealer in flax, flaxseed oil, or hemp. Or it may refer to the color of a person's hair. In old authors "flax-wife" signifies a female spinner who is married, probably to distinguish her from the spinster, or maiden of the distaff. One of the family is described as "Johannem Spoundel dictum Flexmangere," or fiax-monger, and twenty years later this person, or a descendant, is simply described as 'Johannes Flexman.'" 2

Early Origins of the Flaxman family

The surname Flaxman was first found in Huntingdonshire where in the year 1279 William Flexman held estates in that shire. A few years later, Richard le flexmongere was laos listed there in 1294. In Norfolk, Nicholas Flaxman was listed as holding lands there in 1332. 3

The source Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III includes entries for Ralph le Flexman and John Flexmon, Gloucestershire, 20 Edward I (during the twentieth year of King Edard I's reign.) 1

Early History of the Flaxman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Flaxman research. Another 107 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1205, 1327, 1332, 1562, 1582, 1663 and 1706 are included under the topic Early Flaxman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Flaxman Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Flaxman family name include Flaxman, Flexman, Flashman, Flachman, Fleshman, Flesh and many more.

Early Notables of the Flaxman family

  • the Flaxman family of Huntingdon

Flaxman migration to Australia +

Flaxman Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • William Flaxman a storeman, who arrived in Kangaroo Island aboard the ship "Emma" in 1836 4
  • Charles Flaxman, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Countess of Durham" in 1841 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Flaxman (post 1700) +

  • John Flaxman (1755-1826), British sculptor, illustrator, and designer
  • Flaxman Charles John Spurrell (1842-1915), English archaeologist, geologist and photographer
  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Emma. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1836Emma.gif
  5. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) COUNTESS OF DURHAM 1841. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1841CountessOfDurham.gif

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