Flexer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Flexer

What does the name Flexer mean?

The name Flexer 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 Flexer family

The surname Flexer 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 Flexer family

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

Flexer Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Flexer has appeared include Flaxman, Flexman, Flashman, Flachman, Fleshman, Flesh and many more.

Early Notables of the Flexer family

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

Flexer migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Flexer arrived in North America very early:

Flexer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Hance Philip Flexer, aged 31, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1736 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Flexer (post 1700) +

Mae Flexer (d. 2015), American politician, Member of the Connecticut Senate from the 29th District
Joe Flexer (1933-2000), American-born, Canadian trade unionist and communist activist
Fayette J. Flexer (1892-1975), American politician, U.S. Vice Consul in Mexico City, 1925-26; Frontera, 1927; Alvaro Obregón, 1929; U.S. Consul in Santiago, 1939-40; Colombo, 1943; Buenos Aires, 1945-46; Manila, 1947 5

Sources +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 17) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html