UK surname
A surname derived from the Old English word "fleche," meaning an arrow maker or fletcher.
In the 1881 census there were 21 people recorded with the Flecther surname, ranking it #30,609 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 15, ranked #37,092, down from #30,609 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, Warton and Logie. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Flecther is 127 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 28.6%.
1881 census count
21
Ranked #30,609
Modern count
15
2016, ranked #37,092
Peak year
1911
127 bearers
Map years
1
1911 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Flecther surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Flecther surname density by area, 1911 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 | 68 | #21,302 |
| 1861 | historical | 15 | #31,942 |
| 1881 | historical | 21 | #30,609 |
| 1891 | historical | 56 | #29,638 |
| 1901 | historical | 27 | #31,057 |
| 1911 | historical | 127 | #19,749 |
| 1997 | modern | 88 | #28,611 |
| 1998 | modern | 62 | #31,735 |
| 1999 | modern | 53 | #32,746 |
| 2000 | modern | 50 | #33,087 |
| 2001 | modern | 13 | #36,483 |
| 2002 | modern | 13 | #36,570 |
| 2003 | modern | 12 | #36,715 |
| 2004 | modern | 18 | #36,245 |
| 2005 | modern | 18 | #36,332 |
| 2006 | modern | 27 | #35,746 |
| 2007 | modern | 28 | #35,801 |
| 2008 | modern | 28 | #35,875 |
| 2009 | modern | 54 | #34,431 |
| 2010 | modern | 53 | #34,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 42 | #35,283 |
| 2012 | modern | 14 | #37,078 |
| 2013 | modern | 13 | #37,224 |
| 2014 | modern | 15 | #37,070 |
| 2015 | modern | 15 | #37,070 |
| 2016 | modern | 15 | #37,092 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, Warton, Logie, London parishes 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 | St George in the East | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | Warton | Lancashire |
| 3 | Logie | Stirling |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Flecther 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 Flecther, 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 Flecther surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Flecther 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, Flecther 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 Flecther is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Flecther, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname FLECTHER has its origins in England, where it first emerged in the late 12th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "fleche," which means "arrow maker" or "fletcher." This occupation was highly valued during the Middle Ages, as skilled fletchers were essential for supplying armies with arrows for their bows.
The earliest known record of the name FLECTHER can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire from 1195, where a certain William le Fleccher is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use by that time and was likely associated with the profession of making arrows.
In the 13th century, the name FLECTHER appeared in various records across England, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a John le Fleccher is recorded in Oxfordshire. The name's spelling variations during this period included Fleccher, Flecher, and Flechere, among others.
One notable bearer of the FLECTHER name was John Flecther, a prominent English poet and playwright who lived from 1579 to 1625. He was known for his satirical works and plays, such as "The Woman's Prize, or The Tamer Tamed," which was a response to Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew."
Another famous FLECTHER was Giles Fletcher the Elder (1549-1611), an English poet and diplomat who served as an ambassador to Russia. His son, Giles Fletcher the Younger (1588-1623), was also a renowned poet and author of the allegorical work "Christ's Victory and Triumph."
In the 16th century, the FLECTHER name was associated with various places in England, such as Fletchere's Field in Warwickshire and Fletchere's Bridge in Hertfordshire, further solidifying its connection to the region.
As the centuries passed, the FLECTHER surname spread across England and eventually to other parts of the world, carried by English immigrants and settlers. Notable bearers of the name include Abraham Fletcher (1714-1793), a British mathematician and philosopher, and Andrew Fletcher (1655-1716), a Scottish writer and politician known for his advocacy of republican ideals.
Throughout its history, the surname FLECTHER has maintained its connection to the ancient profession of arrow making, serving as a testament to the skilled craftsmen who played a crucial role in the wars and conflicts that shaped the course of English history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Flecther 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. Middlesex leads with 7 Flecthers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.59x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 7 | 3.59x |
| Worcestershire | 5 | 19.65x |
| Durham | 4 | 6.90x |
| Derbyshire | 2 | 6.56x |
| Kent | 1 | 1.50x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.52x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St George In East London in Middlesex leads with 7 Flecthers recorded in 1881 and an index of 382.51x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| St George In East London | 7 | 382.51x |
| Stourbridge | 5 | 769.23x |
| Newfield | 4 | 5000.00x |
| Ashover | 2 | 1333.33x |
| Deptford St Paul | 1 | 19.49x |
| Manningham | 1 | 42.02x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Flecther 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 Flecther 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 Flecther households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Bricklayer | 3 |
| Bank Rider (Pitman) | 1 |
| Farm Laborer | 1 |
| Fur Sewer | 1 |
| General Servant Domestc | 1 |
| Horse Man (Ag Lab) | 1 |
| Nurse Domestic Serv | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 21 people were recorded with the Flecther surname. That placed it at #30,609 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 15 in 2016. That gives Flecther a modern rank of #37,092.
A surname derived from the Old English word "fleche," meaning an arrow maker or fletcher.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Flecther 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.