NameCensus.

UK surname

Flashman

An English surname likely derived from an archaic spelling of "flasher", referring to one who flushes or clears watercourses.

In the 1881 census there were 85 people recorded with the Flashman surname, ranking it #21,573 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 199, ranked #19,653, up from #21,573 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841), London parishes and Dover St James, Dover St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, West Oxfordshire and Mole Valley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Flashman is 212 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 134.1%.

1881 census count

85

Ranked #21,573

Modern count

199

2016, ranked #19,653

Peak year

2000

212 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Flashman had 85 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,573 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 199 in 2016, ranked #19,653.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 102 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Flashman surname distribution map

The map shows where the Flashman surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Flashman surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Flashman over time

The 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 77 #19,998
1861 historical 82 #23,321
1881 historical 85 #21,573
1891 historical 84 #26,229
1901 historical 89 #24,154
1911 historical 102 #22,465
1997 modern 194 #17,978
1998 modern 201 #18,047
1999 modern 208 #17,808
2000 modern 212 #17,554
2001 modern 206 #17,624
2002 modern 204 #18,062
2003 modern 191 #18,628
2004 modern 181 #19,363
2005 modern 190 #18,753
2006 modern 183 #19,326
2007 modern 179 #19,811
2008 modern 182 #19,800
2009 modern 202 #18,896
2010 modern 204 #19,200
2011 modern 204 #19,040
2012 modern 208 #18,720
2013 modern 208 #19,041
2014 modern 207 #19,259
2015 modern 204 #19,331
2016 modern 199 #19,653

Geography

Back to top

Where Flashmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841), London parishes, Dover St James, Dover St Mary, Modbury, Bigbury, Ermington, Kingston and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, West Oxfordshire, Mole Valley, East Hampshire and Harrow. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon
2 London parishes London 3
3 Dover St James, Dover St Mary Kent
4 Modbury, Bigbury, Ermington, Kingston Devon
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 010 Cornwall
2 West Oxfordshire 001 West Oxfordshire
3 Mole Valley 013 Mole Valley
4 East Hampshire 006 East Hampshire
5 Harrow 001 Harrow

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Flashman

These lists show first names that appear often with the Flashman surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Flashman

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Flashman, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Flashman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Flashman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Flashman is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Flashman is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Flashman falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Flashman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Flashman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Flashman

The surname Flashman is believed to have its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. The name is primarily associated with the regions around London and adjacent counties. Etymologically, the surname Flashman may derive from the Old English word "flaesc," meaning "flesh," combined with "man," indicating a person associated with the flesh trade, possibly a butcher or a seller of meat. It might also be linked to a nickname for someone with a fleshy appearance.

Flashman appears in some early English records and manuscripts, though it was relatively uncommon compared to other surnames. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is seen in a 14th-century tax record from London, where a John Flashman is listed. Such early documentation suggests that the name was known and used during that period in urban settings.

By the 16th century, the surname Flashman had gain slight prominence, with records indicating its use in legal documents and parish registers. In 1562, a William Flashman was documented as a landholder in the county of Wiltshire. This record highlights the spread of the surname beyond London to rural areas.

Throughout history, the Flashman name continued to appear in various forms. Notably, in the 18th century, a Samuel Flashman, born in 1720 and died in 1785, is recorded as a merchant in London. His involvement in trade and commerce contributed to the modest status the name held in urban society during that period.

Moving into the 19th century, the surname received broader recognition partly due to Thomas Flashman, born in 1805 and died in 1867, who worked as a magistrate in Liverpool. Historical records from that era often mention him in connection to legal reforms and civic engagements, furthering the notoriety of the Flashman surname.

One of the most famous bearers of the surname Flashman in historical fiction is Harry Flashman, which brought the name into popular culture. Though not a real historical figure, the character was created by author George MacDonald Fraser in a series of novels published from 1969 onwards. The fictional exploits of Harry Flashman added a layer of cultural legacy to the name.

Overall, the surname Flashman, through various historical periods, has seen a slow but notable presence in England. The name's association with professions, civic duties, and literary figures has provided it with a varied and interesting history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Flashman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Flashman surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Devon leads with 29 Flashmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.80x.

County Total Index
Devon 29 16.80x
Surrey 19 4.70x
Middlesex 14 1.69x
Kent 10 3.54x
Lanarkshire 6 2.24x
Somerset 2 1.50x
Yorkshire 2 0.24x
Anglesey 1 6.81x
Cheshire 1 0.55x
Cornwall 1 1.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 15 Flashmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.75x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 15 20.75x
Ermington 10 1587.30x
Modbury 8 1818.18x
Govan 6 9.05x
Bethnal Green London 4 11.10x
Hackney London 4 8.61x
Mile End New Town London 4 243.90x
Plymouth Charles The 4 52.63x
Camberwell 3 5.66x
Dover St Mary Virgin 3 109.49x
Hougham 3 178.57x
Brightside Bierlow 2 12.41x
Buckland In Dover 2 212.77x
South Molton 2 210.53x
Stoke Damerel 2 16.56x
Walcot 2 28.13x
Aveton Gifford 1 400.00x
Birkenhead 1 6.85x
Charlton 1 53.19x
Deptford St Paul 1 4.58x
Holyhead 1 36.50x
Kingsbridge 1 232.56x
Limehouse London 1 10.99x
Perranarworthal 1 322.58x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 7.52x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 6.00x
St Pancras London 1 1.50x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Flashman surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 9
Ann 3
Elizabeth 3
Annie 2
Emma 2
Lucy 2
Sarah 2
Adeline 1
Anne 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Evious 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Jane 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Leona 1
Lilian 1
Matilda 1
Nancy 1
Nelly 1
Rosina 1
Sabine 1
Sophia 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Flashman surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

FAQ

Flashman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Flashman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 85 people were recorded with the Flashman surname. That placed it at #21,573 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Flashman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 199 in 2016. That gives Flashman a modern rank of #19,653.

What does the Flashman surname mean?

An English surname likely derived from an archaic spelling of "flasher", referring to one who flushes or clears watercourses.

What does the Flashman map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Flashman bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.