Show ContentsFleshman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Fleshman

What does the name Fleshman mean?

The name Fleshman 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 Fleshman family

The surname Fleshman 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 Fleshman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fleshman 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 Fleshman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fleshman Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Fleshman were recorded, including Flaxman, Flexman, Flashman, Flachman, Fleshman, Flesh and many more.

Early Notables of the Fleshman family

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

Fleshman Ranking

the United States, the name Fleshman is the 10,358th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4


Fleshman migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Fleshman family emigrate to North America:

Fleshman Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Peter Fleshman, who arrived in Virginia in 1743 5
Fleshman Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Louis Fleshman, aged 41, who landed in America, in 1908
  • William Fleshman, aged 22, who immigrated to the United States from Buenos Aires, in 1909
  • A. C. Fleshman, who settled in America, in 1910

Contemporary Notables of the name Fleshman (post 1700) +

  • Lauren Fleshman (b. 1981), American track and field athlete
  • S. T. Fleshman, American politician, Mayor of Center, Texas, 1903-05 6

USS Indianapolis
  • Vern Leslie Fleshman, American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 7


  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. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. 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)
  6. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  7. Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew


Houseofnames.com on Facebook