NameCensus.

UK surname

Flaxman

An occupational surname referring to someone involved in the cultivation of flax.

In the 1881 census there were 527 people recorded with the Flaxman surname, ranking it #6,503 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 457, ranked #10,690, down from #6,503 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Haddiscoe. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Norfolk, Waveney and Great Yarmouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Flaxman is 649 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 13.3%.

1881 census count

527

Ranked #6,503

Modern count

457

2016, ranked #10,690

Peak year

1911

649 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Flaxman had 527 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,503 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 457 in 2016, ranked #10,690.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 649 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Flaxman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Flaxman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Flaxman 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 311 #7,413
1861 historical 229 #10,660
1881 historical 527 #6,503
1891 historical 533 #7,045
1901 historical 621 #6,877
1911 historical 649 #6,449
1997 modern 493 #9,399
1998 modern 502 #9,562
1999 modern 511 #9,500
2000 modern 519 #9,352
2001 modern 516 #9,234
2002 modern 512 #9,470
2003 modern 488 #9,657
2004 modern 469 #9,983
2005 modern 459 #10,053
2006 modern 450 #10,237
2007 modern 463 #10,130
2008 modern 446 #10,501
2009 modern 460 #10,481
2010 modern 459 #10,739
2011 modern 456 #10,676
2012 modern 473 #10,279
2013 modern 467 #10,544
2014 modern 476 #10,457
2015 modern 470 #10,480
2016 modern 457 #10,690

Geography

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Where Flaxmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Haddiscoe and Walsham, North. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Norfolk, Waveney, Great Yarmouth, East Riding of Yorkshire and Stratford-on-Avon. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Haddiscoe Norfolk
5 Walsham, North Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Norfolk 013 North Norfolk
2 Waveney 001 Waveney
3 Great Yarmouth 012 Great Yarmouth
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 039 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 Stratford-on-Avon 007 Stratford-on-Avon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Flaxman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Flaxman

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Flaxman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Flaxman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Flaxman is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Flaxman is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Flaxman falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Flaxman 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 Flaxman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Flaxman

The surname Flaxman is of English origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. The name is derived from the Old English words "fleax" and "mann," which collectively translate to "a man who deals with flax." Flax was a valuable crop used for producing linen fabric, and those involved in its cultivation or processing adopted this occupational surname.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Flaxman surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a landowner named Flaxman in the county of Lincolnshire. This suggests that the name was already established in England by the late 11th century.

The Flaxman family originally hailed from the counties of Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Yorkshire, where the flax industry was prevalent during the Middle Ages. Variations in spelling, such as Flaxeman and Flaxmon, were common in historical records due to the inconsistencies in written English at the time.

A notable figure bearing the Flaxman surname was John Flaxman (1755-1826), an acclaimed English sculptor and illustrator. His neoclassical works, including the sculptures for the Parthenon frieze at the British Museum, earned him widespread recognition and patronage from prestigious figures like Lord Nelson.

Another distinguished Flaxman was Robert Flaxman (1573-1637), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, from 1616 until his death. He was known for his scholarly contributions and his work in promoting education.

The Flaxman family also had connections to the textile industry, with Thomas Flaxman (1808-1882) being a prominent English industrialist and philanthropist. He owned several cotton mills in Lancashire and was instrumental in improving the working conditions of his employees.

In the realm of literature, Mary Flaxman (1794-1887) was a notable English scholar and translator. She is best known for her translations of German works, including those of Goethe and Lessing, which helped introduce these writers to English audiences.

The surname Flaxman has left its mark across various fields, from the arts and academia to industry and commerce, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who carried this occupational name throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Flaxman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Flaxman 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. Norfolk leads with 193 Flaxmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.37x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 193 24.37x
Middlesex 148 2.87x
Surrey 52 2.07x
Suffolk 38 6.06x
Buckinghamshire 16 5.14x
Kent 13 0.74x
Durham 10 0.65x
Northumberland 9 1.17x
Lancashire 8 0.13x
Essex 7 0.69x
Yorkshire 7 0.14x
Leicestershire 6 1.05x
Lincolnshire 5 0.61x
Cambridgeshire 4 1.23x
Cornwall 2 0.34x
Devon 2 0.19x
Midlothian 2 0.29x
Cheshire 1 0.09x
Hampshire 1 0.09x
Hertfordshire 1 0.28x
Northamptonshire 1 0.21x
Staffordshire 1 0.06x
Warwickshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Yarmouth in Norfolk leads with 58 Flaxmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 88.41x.

Place Total Index
Great Yarmouth 58 88.41x
Haddiscoe 20 2857.14x
Hackney London 18 6.23x
Kensington London 14 4.89x
North Walsham 13 227.67x
Islington London 12 2.40x
Mile End Old Town London 12 10.95x
Trunch 12 1500.00x
St Pancras London 11 2.65x
Heigham 10 23.53x
Ipswich St Margaret 10 46.97x
Lambeth 10 2.23x
Shoreditch London 10 4.48x
Stranton 10 19.39x
Bedlington 9 35.17x
Camberwell 9 2.74x
Hammersmith London 9 7.09x
Honing 9 1578.95x
Norwood 9 76.40x
Swanton Abbott 9 1011.24x
Beddington 8 82.39x
Hillingdon 8 48.72x
Mundham 8 1538.46x
Winterton 8 575.54x
Edmonton 7 16.87x
Fulham London 7 9.37x
Ilketshall St Lawrence 7 1842.11x
St Marylebone London 7 2.55x
Upton Cum Chalvey 7 56.41x
West Ham 7 3.12x
Burgh St Peter 6 937.50x
Glen Parva 6 447.76x
Bow London 5 7.63x
Caterham 5 45.09x
Clerkenwell London 5 4.11x
Ditchingham 5 263.16x
Farnham Royal 5 271.74x
Garston 5 27.72x
Metfield 5 485.44x
Wells Next Sea 5 108.23x
Bethnal Green London 4 1.79x
Bexley 4 25.74x
Blundeston 4 317.46x
Holbeach 4 43.62x
Holy Trinity Cambridge 4 112.99x
Langley Marish 4 104.71x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 4 100.50x
Ormesby St Margaret W 4 201.01x
Oxted 4 132.45x
Catfield 3 270.27x
Clapham 3 4.66x
East Molesey 3 51.55x
Minster In Sheppey 3 10.31x
Newington 3 1.58x
Sittingbourne 3 21.61x
Wombwell 3 20.16x
Woodbridge 3 37.41x
Aldeby 2 176.99x
Aldringham 2 222.22x
Battersea 2 1.06x
Bradwell 2 204.08x
Caistor Next Yarmouth 2 71.68x
Chelsea London 2 1.29x
Compton Gifford 2 59.52x
Croydon 2 1.44x
Horsham St Faith 2 151.52x
Liverpool 2 0.54x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 2 41.49x
Norwich St Michael At 2 43.57x
Pulham St Mary Virgin 2 137.93x
Spexhall 2 555.56x
St George Hanover Square 2 2.20x
St Luke London 2 2.42x
Sykehouse 2 277.78x
Kingston On Thames 1 1.66x
Norwich St Mary In Marsh 1 112.36x
Richmond 1 2.84x
Rollesby 1 101.01x
Temple 1 36.50x
Wolverhampton 1 0.75x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 29
John 21
James 19
Charles 17
George 17
Robert 15
Alfred 11
Henry 10
Samuel 10
Arthur 8
Joseph 7
Thomas 7
Frederick 6
Walter 6
Edward 4
Edwin 4
Albert 3
Benjamin 3
Geo. 3
Harry 3
Marcus 3
Ben 2
David 2
Frank 2
Frederic 2
Fredk. 2
Herbert 2
Earnest 1
Ernest 1
Frances 1
Fred 1
Fredric 1
Fredrick 1
Geo.Wm. 1
Gorge 1
Handel 1
Horace 1
Horatio 1
J.P. 1
Jabez 1
Jacob 1
Jesse 1
Jonathan 1
Leonard 1
Oliver 1
Peter 1
Reuben 1
Robt. 1
W. 1
Wm.W. 1

FAQ

Flaxman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Flaxman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 527 people were recorded with the Flaxman surname. That placed it at #6,503 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Flaxman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 457 in 2016. That gives Flaxman a modern rank of #10,690.

What does the Flaxman surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone involved in the cultivation of flax.

What does the Flaxman map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Flaxman 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.