UK surname
A surname derived from a characteristic or epithet referring to someone with a fiery or passionate temperament.
In the 1881 census there were 31 people recorded with the Flaming surname, ranking it #29,218 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5, ranked #38,264, down from #29,218 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bothwell, Carlisle St Cuthbert and St James Westminster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Flaming is 204 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 83.9%.
1881 census count
31
Ranked #29,218
Modern count
5
2016, ranked #38,264
Peak year
1861
204 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Flaming surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Flaming surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 34 | #27,194 |
| 1861 | historical | 204 | #11,814 |
| 1881 | historical | 31 | #29,218 |
| 1891 | historical | 110 | #22,557 |
| 1901 | historical | 9 | #33,154 |
| 1911 | historical | 19 | #31,416 |
| 2000 | modern | 1 | #38,790 |
| 2002 | modern | 1 | #38,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 1 | #38,735 |
| 2004 | modern | 2 | #38,464 |
| 2005 | modern | 2 | #38,532 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2007 | modern | 4 | #38,169 |
| 2008 | modern | 2 | #38,673 |
| 2009 | modern | 2 | #38,725 |
| 2010 | modern | 3 | #38,552 |
| 2011 | modern | 4 | #38,338 |
| 2012 | modern | 5 | #38,167 |
| 2013 | modern | 6 | #38,049 |
| 2014 | modern | 5 | #38,228 |
| 2015 | modern | 5 | #38,221 |
| 2016 | modern | 5 | #38,264 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bothwell, Carlisle St Cuthbert, St James Westminster, Bedford St Paul and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bothwell | Lanark |
| 2 | Carlisle St Cuthbert | Cumberland |
| 3 | St James Westminster | London (West Districts) |
| 4 | Bedford St Paul | Bedfordshire |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Flaming surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Flaming, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Flaming surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Flaming household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Flaming is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Flaming is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Flaming, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname FLAMING has its origins in England, tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "flæming," which referred to someone from Flanders, a region in the Low Countries that is now part of Belgium. The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname for someone who had immigrated or was descended from immigrants from Flanders.
In the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are several entries for individuals with the surname FLAMING or its variants, such as FLEMYNG and FLEMMING. These early records suggest that the name was well-established in England by the 11th century.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname FLAMING was John Flemyng, who was born around 1350 in Derbyshire, England. He was a prominent churchman and served as the Bishop of Lincoln from 1420 until his death in 1428.
Another notable figure was Sir Robert Flemyng, who was born in Yorkshire, England, in the late 14th century. He was a military commander and served as the Captain of Calais, a strategically important town in northern France, during the Hundred Years' War.
In the 15th century, the FLAMING surname was also associated with a noble family from Oxfordshire, England. Sir Thomas Flaming (c. 1460-1520) was a member of this family and served as a member of Parliament and a Justice of the Peace.
In the 16th century, William Flaming (c. 1510-1580) was a noted English scholar and translator who produced translations of several works from Latin and Greek into English.
During the 17th century, the FLAMING surname was found in various parts of England, as well as in some areas of Scotland and Ireland. One notable example is Robert Flaming (1630-1696), a Scottish minister and academic who served as the Principal of the University of Glasgow from 1692 until his death.
As the name spread across different regions, variations in spelling emerged, such as FLEMMING, FLEMING, and FLEMMYNG. Additionally, the surname was often associated with certain place names, such as Flaming in Nottinghamshire and Fleming in Yorkshire, which may have contributed to its broader adoption and distribution.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Flaming surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lanarkshire leads with 10 Flamings recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.23x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lanarkshire | 10 | 10.23x |
| Lancashire | 10 | 2.79x |
| Devon | 3 | 4.77x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 1.00x |
| Derbyshire | 2 | 4.22x |
| Durham | 2 | 2.22x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 2.47x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bothwell in Lanarkshire leads with 8 Flamings recorded in 1881 and an index of 301.89x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bothwell | 8 | 301.89x |
| Liverpool | 6 | 27.54x |
| East Stonehouse | 3 | 241.94x |
| Manchester | 3 | 18.59x |
| Doncaster | 2 | 91.32x |
| Hedworth Monkton Jarrow | 2 | 51.28x |
| Currie | 1 | 400.00x |
| Glossop Dale | 1 | 45.05x |
| Lofthouse | 1 | 222.22x |
| Melbourne | 1 | 312.50x |
| New Monkland | 1 | 34.60x |
| Salford | 1 | 9.48x |
| Shettleston | 1 | 113.64x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Flaming surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Flaming surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Flaming households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 3 |
| Labourer | 2 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Hawker | 1 |
| House Decorator | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Mill Operative | 1 |
| Mill Operative (C) | 1 |
| Railway Labourer | 1 |
| Shipwright | 1 |
| Shop Boy | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Teach At Convent School | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 31 people were recorded with the Flaming surname. That placed it at #29,218 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 5 in 2016. That gives Flaming a modern rank of #38,264.
A surname derived from a characteristic or epithet referring to someone with a fiery or passionate temperament.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Flaming bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.