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Show ContentsFleming History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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Etymology of Fleming

What does the name Fleming mean?

The earliest recorded instance of the Fleming 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 Fleming family

The surname Fleming 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 Fleming family

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

Fleming 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 Fleming 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 sec...

Fleming World Ranking

In the United States, the name Fleming is the 258th most popular surname with an estimated 101,967 people with that name. 4 However, in Canada, the name Fleming is ranked the 359th most popular surname with an estimated 12,664 people with that name. 5 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Fleming is the 196th popular surname with an estimated 212 people with that name. 6 Australia ranks Fleming as 212nd with 15,680 people. 7 New Zealand ranks Fleming as 182nd with 3,010 people. 8 The United Kingdom ranks Fleming as 286th with 21,268 people. 9

Migration of the Fleming family to Ireland

Some of the Fleming 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.

Fleming migration to the United States +

Study of Passenger and Immigration lists has revealed that among early immigrants bearing the Fleming surname were:

Fleming Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Fleming, who landed in Jamestown, Va in 1616 10
  • Richard Fleming, aged 24, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Plain Joan" 10
  • Richard Fleming, who settled in Virginia in 1635
  • Abram Fleming, aged 40, who landed in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Increase", bound for Boston 10
  • Elizabeth Fleming, who arrived in Virginia in 1650 10
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Fleming Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Margaret Fleming, who landed in Virginia in 1701 10
  • Richard Fleming, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 10
  • Alex Fleming, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 10
  • John Fleming, who landed in Virginia in 1702 10
  • James Fleming, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 10
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Fleming Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Fleming, aged 24, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1803 10
  • Margaret Fleming, aged 20, who arrived in New York, NY in 1804 10
  • Helen Fleming, who arrived in Georgia in 1806 10
  • Beatrice Fleming, who emigrated from Scotland to Georgia in 1806
  • Beatrice Fleming, who arrived in Georgia in 1806 10
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Fleming migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Fleming Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Joseph Fleming, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Mr. James Fleming U.E. who settled in New Brunswick c. 1784 he is listed with the Loyalists and Disbanded Soldiers whose names appear as Passamaquoddy New Brunswick Loyalists 11
Fleming Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mary Fleming, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1813
  • James Fleming, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1814
  • Mary Fleming, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1819
  • Charles Fleming, who arrived in Canada in 1820
  • Margaret Fleming, aged 20, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Maria" from Cork, Ireland
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Fleming migration to Australia +

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

Fleming Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Fleming, British Convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for life for theft, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
  • Mr. Edward Fleming, (b. 1802), aged 18, Irish shoe maker who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years for felony, transported aboard the "Dorothy" on 5th May 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, listed as sent on to Newcastle via "Sally" in 1821 13
  • Mr. Thomas Fleming, (Hamilton, Robertson), Scottish convict who was convicted in Perth, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Claudine" on 20th May 1821, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 14
  • Mr. John Fleming, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl St Vincent" on 20th April 1826, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 15
  • Mr. John Fleming, (b. 1779), aged 50, Irish black smith who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 2nd March 1829, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 16
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Fleming 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:

Fleming Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Samuel Fleming, who landed in Onehunga, Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
  • Mr. William Fleming, British settler arriving as Detachment of the Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Sir George Symour" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 26th November 1847 17
  • S. Fleming, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Stately" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 1st June 1851 17
  • S. Fleming, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Stately" in 1851
  • Mr. Michael Fleming, British settler travelling from Portsmouth aboard the ship "Duke of Portland" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 13th October 1851 18
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Fleming (post 1700) +

  • Commander Ian Lancaster Fleming (1908-1964), English author, journalist and Second World War Navy Commander, best remembered for creating the character of James Bond, but children remember him as the author of the story "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" 19
  • Sir Alexander Fleming (1881-1955), Scottish biologist and pharmacologist who discovered of penicillin (1928) and shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1945 20
  • Frank Fleming (1953-2022), American politician, Member of the Montana House of Representatives (2018-2022)
  • George Fleming (1937-2021), American multi-position college football player, inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame on December 31, 2011
  • Rhonda Fleming (1923-2020), born Marilyn Louis, an American film and television actress who acted in more than 40 films, nicknamed the "Queen of Technicolor"
  • Dave Fleming (1944-2020), American CFL football player who played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1965-1974)
  • Thomas "Tom" Fleming (1951-2017), American four-time gold medalist marathon runner
  • Martin Brendan Fleming (1926-2016), American politician, Mayor of Lowell, Massachusetts from 1982 to 1984
  • Major-General Raymond Hartwell Fleming (1889-1974), American Adjutant-General of Louisiana (1960-1964) 21
  • Major-General Philip Bracken Fleming (1887-1955), American Under-Secretary of Commerce (1950-1951) 22
  • ... (Another 23 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
HMAS Sydney II
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Ian Fleming (b. 1908), British Lieutenant, who trained on board the HMS Repulse (1941) in WW1 had an illustrious career and went on to create "James Bond" 24
HMS Royal Oak
  • Edward Fleming, British Stoker with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 25
RMS Titanic
  • Miss Honora "Nora" Fleming (d. 1912), aged 22, Irish Third Class passenger from Carrowskehine, Mayo who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 26
  • Miss Margaret Fleming, aged 42, American First Class passenger from Haverford, Pennsylvania who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping in life boat 4 26
SS Caribou
  • Mr. Thomas P. Fleming, (Tommy), British crew member from North Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia was travelling aboard the railway ferry "SS Caribou" when it was struck by a German submarine torpedo on 14th October 1942, the most significant sinking in Canadian waters at that time, he survived the sinking
SS Newfoundland
  • Mr. William Fleming (1895-1914), Newfoundlander from Bonavista, who on the 30th March 1914 he was part of the Seal Crew of the "SS Newfoundland" leaving the ship to intercept the Stephano which took him to the hunting grounds, he disembarked to begin sealing, but was caught in a thickening storm, attempting to return to the Newfoundland he and the 132 crew made camp for two days the sealers were stranded on the ice in a blizzard attempting to return to the ship, he died during this time
SS Southern Cross
  • Mr. Cornelius Fleming (1891-1914), Newfoundlander from St. Vincent's who was aboard the "SS Southern Cross" when it is suspected she sank between the 31st March 1914 and early April during the storm with a heavy load of pelts; no survivors were ever found

The Fleming Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Let the deed shaw

Suggested Readings for the name Fleming +

  • Hamilton, Mullins, Fleming, and Related Lines (of Kentucky, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee) by Verle Hamilton Parrish.
  • Let the Deed Show: A Pictorial and Historical Record of the Fleming, Edwards and Woods Families Dating from 1700's to 1980 by James R. Fleming.
  1. 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
  2. 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)
  3. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  6. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  7. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  8. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  9. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  10. 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)
  11. 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
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-spencer
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dorothy
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/claudine
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-st-vincent
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
  17. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  18. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  19. Ian Fleming. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Ian Fleming. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Fleming
  20. Alexander Fleming. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Alexander Fleming. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Fleming
  21. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, February 29) Raymond Fleming. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Fleming/Raymond_Hartwell/USA.html
  22. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, February 29) Philip Fleming. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Fleming/Philip_Bracken/USA.html
  23. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
  24. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  25. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
  26. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html

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