Flemmens History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
England

The earliest recorded instance of the Flemmens family name show the family in Flanders, which was located on the North Sea and was a prosperous center for the cloth industry during the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Anglo-French word "fleming," which comes from the Old French word "flamanc," which means "a Fleming."

"The Flemings were numerous in Norwich from an early period, and Flemings were planted in Pembrokeshire by Henry I. Some of their countrymen had already settled in this country in the days of William the Conqueror, and we find them established about Downton at the period of the Domesday Survey. An eruption of the sea into Flanders compelled the inhabitants to emigrate in great numbers. Many of the wanderers sought refuge in England, and were allowed to inhabit the borders of Scotland. " 1

Early Origins of the Flemmens family

The surname Flemmens was first found in Lanarkshire. "Large territories in the Upper Ward of Lanarkshire were later in possession of a family of this name. Their residence was Boghall Castle near Biggar Theobald the Fleming (Theobaldus Flamaticus) had a grant of land on the Douglas Water from the abbot of Kelso between 1147-1160. Baldwin the Fleming was sheriff of Lanark c. 1150. Jordan Fleming was taken prisoner at Alnwick along with William the Lion in 1174. 2

Confirming their original European stock, "the family of Flemmens, according to Hals, descended from a nobleman of Flanders, who, at a very early period came over to England, and took up his abode at Stoke-flemen in Devonshire, of which he was lord. In the days of Richard I. one of his posterity held in this place by the tenure of knight-service, seven knight's fees, and was probably the founder of this church, which still bears his name. This must have been about the year 1190. His son John was sheriff of Cornwall three years, from the third to the sixth year of John's reign." 3

Early History of the Flemmens family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Flemmens research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1126, 1320, 1341, 1362, 1363, 1372, 1382, 1404, 1416, 1483, 1544, 1567, 1593, 1606, 1613, 1619, 1630, 1633, 1660, 1663, 1666, 1690, 1694, 1698, 1700, 1701, 1708, 1713, 1716 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Flemmens History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Flemmens Spelling Variations

Flemish surnames are characterized by a large number of spelling variations. One reason for this is that medieval English lacked definite spelling rules. The spellings of surnames were also influenced by the official court languages, which were French and Latin. Names were rarely spelled consistently in medieval times. Scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to specific spelling rules, and people often had their names registered in several different forms throughout their lives. One of the greatest reasons for change is the linguistic uniqueness of the Flemish settlers in England, who spoke a language closely related to Dutch. The pronunciation and spelling of Flemish names were often altered to suit the tastes of English-speaking people. In many cases, the first, final, or middle syllables of surnames were eliminated. The name has been spelled Fleming, Flemming, Fleeman, Flemons, Flemyng, Fleeming, Flamank, Flament, Flement and many more.

Early Notables of the Flemmens family

Of note in the family at this time was Thomas Fleming (c.1363-c. 1382), 2nd Earl of Wigtown, who was forced through financial hardship to sell the earldom to Archibald the Grim, Lord of Galloway and Earl of Douglas in 1372. There was a second creation of the Earldom of Wigtown, for John Fleming (1567-1619), Lord Fleming and Cumbernauld, in 1606. Robert Fleming the elder (1630-1694), was...
Another 65 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Flemmens Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Flemmens family to Ireland

Some of the Flemmens family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 138 words (10 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Flemmens family

Discovered in the immigration and passenger lists were a number of people bearing the name Flemmens: Abraham Fleming, who arrived in Boston in 1635; Elizabeth Fleming, who settled in Virginia in 1650; as did Christopher Fleming in 1653; Alexander Fleming, who came to Charleston, South Carolina in 1768.

Citations +

Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 2 of 3
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print