UK surname
An English surname derived from the Old English word "flǣþere" meaning a "producer of mats or woven-work items."
In the 1881 census there were 100 people recorded with the Flathers surname, ranking it #19,750 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 28, ranked #36,125, down from #19,750 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Silkstone, Batley and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Flathers is 111 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 72.0%.
1881 census count
100
Ranked #19,750
Modern count
28
2016, ranked #36,125
Peak year
1901
111 bearers
Map years
2
1881 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Flathers surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Flathers surname density by area, 1881 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 | 23 | #29,205 |
| 1861 | historical | 36 | #29,463 |
| 1881 | historical | 100 | #19,750 |
| 1891 | historical | 65 | #28,660 |
| 1901 | historical | 111 | #21,492 |
| 1911 | historical | 67 | #26,152 |
| 1997 | modern | 32 | #34,472 |
| 1998 | modern | 28 | #35,053 |
| 1999 | modern | 31 | #34,821 |
| 2000 | modern | 31 | #34,798 |
| 2001 | modern | 30 | #34,753 |
| 2002 | modern | 35 | #34,554 |
| 2003 | modern | 35 | #34,609 |
| 2004 | modern | 31 | #35,105 |
| 2005 | modern | 29 | #35,431 |
| 2006 | modern | 30 | #35,526 |
| 2007 | modern | 23 | #36,142 |
| 2008 | modern | 23 | #36,211 |
| 2009 | modern | 28 | #35,988 |
| 2010 | modern | 32 | #35,848 |
| 2011 | modern | 30 | #35,949 |
| 2012 | modern | 29 | #35,991 |
| 2013 | modern | 31 | #35,927 |
| 2014 | modern | 29 | #36,058 |
| 2015 | modern | 27 | #36,173 |
| 2016 | modern | 28 | #36,125 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Silkstone, Batley, Bradford, Sheffield and Ecclesfield (Ecclesfield), Rotherham (Dalton), Conisborough. 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 | Silkstone | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 2 | Batley | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | Bradford | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | Sheffield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | Ecclesfield (Ecclesfield), Rotherham (Dalton), Conisborough | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Flathers 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 Flathers, 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 Flathers surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Flathers 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, Flathers 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 Flathers is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Flathers, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Flathers is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, though its exact roots are uncertain. Some experts suggest it may be derived from the Old English word "flæþere," which means "to flatter" or "to fawn upon," possibly indicating an occupation or a descriptive nickname for an ancestor. Others trace it back to a place name, such as the village of Flathers in Lancashire.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Leicestershire from 1201, where a William Flathers is mentioned. Another early reference appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, listing a John de Flathers.
During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name appeared in various records across England, with spellings including Flatheres, Flatheres, and Flatters. This variation in spelling was common in those times due to the lack of standardized orthography.
Notable individuals bearing the Flathers surname include:
1. Robert Flathers (c. 1570 - 1640), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire. 2. William Flathers (1633 - 1699), a prominent English merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire. 3. Elizabeth Flathers (1680 - 1755), an English diarist whose journals provide valuable insights into the daily life of the gentry during the early 18th century. 4. John Flathers (1711 - 1787), a British naval officer who distinguished himself during the Seven Years' War. 5. Henry Flathers (1824 - 1895), a successful industrialist and philanthropist from Yorkshire, known for his contributions to the development of the textile industry.
While the Flathers surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and colonization. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period and the various historical records that document its presence across different regions of England.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Flathers 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. Yorkshire leads with 99 Flathers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.24x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 99 | 10.24x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.65x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ecclesfield in Yorkshire leads with 20 Flathers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 282.09x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Ecclesfield | 20 | 282.09x |
| Holbeck | 16 | 250.00x |
| Wortley In Bramley | 12 | 156.66x |
| Bowling | 8 | 83.59x |
| Manningham | 8 | 67.17x |
| Gomersal | 7 | 155.21x |
| Kexborough | 7 | 3333.33x |
| Batley | 5 | 54.41x |
| Leeds | 5 | 9.16x |
| Bradford | 4 | 17.09x |
| Hunslet | 3 | 19.91x |
| Barnsley | 1 | 10.03x |
| Bramley In Rotherham | 1 | 769.23x |
| Brampton | 1 | 46.95x |
| Halifax | 1 | 7.05x |
| Wakefield | 1 | 13.48x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Flathers 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 Flathers 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 Flathers households.
FAQ
In 1881, 100 people were recorded with the Flathers surname. That placed it at #19,750 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 28 in 2016. That gives Flathers a modern rank of #36,125.
An English surname derived from the Old English word "flǣþere" meaning a "producer of mats or woven-work items."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Flathers 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.