NameCensus.

UK surname

Flint

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a significant outcrop of flint rock.

In the 1881 census there were 5,373 people recorded with the Flint surname, ranking it #828 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6,619, ranked #1,019, down from #828 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes and Tideswell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ashfield, Derbyshire Dales and Bolsover.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Flint is 7,085 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.2%.

1881 census count

5,373

Ranked #828

Modern count

6,619

2016, ranked #1,019

Peak year

1998

7,085 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Flint had 5,373 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #828 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 6,619 in 2016, ranked #1,019.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6,989 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Flint surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Flint surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Flint 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 3,440 #829
1861 historical 3,391 #835
1881 historical 5,373 #828
1891 historical 5,739 #819
1901 historical 6,715 #822
1911 historical 6,989 #743
1997 modern 6,795 #955
1998 modern 7,085 #956
1999 modern 7,066 #965
2000 modern 7,063 #958
2001 modern 6,880 #968
2002 modern 6,994 #971
2003 modern 6,732 #980
2004 modern 6,839 #965
2005 modern 6,672 #984
2006 modern 6,675 #982
2007 modern 6,718 #983
2008 modern 6,704 #992
2009 modern 6,759 #1,004
2010 modern 6,924 #1,003
2011 modern 6,825 #1,001
2012 modern 6,723 #995
2013 modern 6,761 #1,011
2014 modern 6,792 #1,012
2015 modern 6,692 #1,014
2016 modern 6,619 #1,019

Geography

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Where Flints are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Tideswell, Edinburgh and Nottingham St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ashfield, Derbyshire Dales and Bolsover. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Tideswell Derbyshire
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ashfield 011 Ashfield
2 Derbyshire Dales 006 Derbyshire Dales
3 Ashfield 007 Ashfield
4 Derbyshire Dales 007 Derbyshire Dales
5 Bolsover 010 Bolsover

Forenames

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First names often paired with Flint

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Flint

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Flint, 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 Flint surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Flint 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Flint is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Flint is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Flint 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 Flint 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 Flint, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Flint

The surname FLINT originated in England and dates back to the 12th century. It is a locational surname derived from various places in England called Flint, such as the town of Flint in Flintshire, Wales. The name Flint comes from the Old English word "flint," referring to the hard rock found in chalky areas.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, the earliest known record of the surname, it appears as "de Flint," indicating a person from the town of Flint. The name was also recorded as "de Flynt" and "de Flyntesham" in early records.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname FLINT was William de Flint, a landowner in Flintshire mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of 1199. Another early bearer was John de Flint, a cleric and royal clerk who served under King Edward I in the late 13th century.

During the 14th century, the FLINT surname spread across England, with families residing in counties like Shropshire, Staffordshire, and Warwickshire. Sir William Flint (1330-1405) was a notable knight and landowner from Flintshire.

In the 15th century, the surname FLINT appeared in various spellings, such as Flynt, Flinte, and Flyntesham. Robert Flint (1450-1520) was a prominent merchant and alderman in the City of London during this period.

The FLINT surname continued to be well-represented in England throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. Notable individuals included Sir Thomas Flint (1548-1617), a Member of Parliament and landowner in Worcestershire, and Henry Flint (1615-1675), a Puritan minister and author.

In the 18th century, the FLINT surname was associated with several notable figures, such as William Flint (1720-1785), a British naval officer and explorer, and John Flint (1755-1825), a Scottish mathematician and astronomer.

During the 19th century, the surname FLINT continued to be prominent in various fields. Austin Flint (1812-1886) was an American physician and medical writer, while Timothy Flint (1780-1840) was an author, missionary, and educator who wrote extensively about the American West.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Flint families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Flint 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. Derbyshire leads with 714 Flints recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.70x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 714 8.70x
Yorkshire 624 1.20x
Middlesex 544 1.04x
Lancashire 378 0.61x
Surrey 366 1.43x
Warwickshire 253 1.91x
Sussex 230 2.60x
Nottinghamshire 229 3.24x
Kent 207 1.16x
Leicestershire 164 2.82x
Staffordshire 120 0.68x
Norfolk 113 1.40x
Hertfordshire 110 3.04x
Essex 97 0.94x
Bedfordshire 93 3.43x
Lincolnshire 75 0.89x
Durham 74 0.47x
Midlothian 73 1.04x
Cheshire 72 0.62x
Northamptonshire 72 1.46x
Northumberland 71 0.91x
Huntingdonshire 69 6.63x
Lanarkshire 66 0.39x
Hampshire 60 0.56x
Oxfordshire 59 1.82x
Cambridgeshire 55 1.66x
Suffolk 41 0.64x
Berkshire 37 0.94x
Buckinghamshire 35 1.10x
Somerset 35 0.41x
Gloucestershire 27 0.26x
West Lothian 23 2.91x
Renfrewshire 22 0.54x
Worcestershire 18 0.26x
Stirlingshire 15 0.78x
Rutland 13 3.38x
Kirkcudbrightshire 12 1.58x
Wiltshire 12 0.26x
Ayrshire 10 0.25x
Cumberland 10 0.22x
Glamorgan 10 0.11x
Perthshire 9 0.38x
Dunbartonshire 8 0.57x
Devon 7 0.06x
Pembrokeshire 7 0.42x
Berwickshire 6 0.95x
Herefordshire 5 0.23x
Denbighshire 4 0.20x
Angus 3 0.06x
Fife 3 0.10x
East Lothian 2 0.29x
Royal Navy 2 0.32x
Selkirkshire 2 0.42x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.02x
Anglesey 1 0.11x
Argyllshire 1 0.07x
Flintshire 1 0.07x
Monmouthshire 1 0.03x
Shropshire 1 0.02x
Westmorland 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 100 Flints recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.97x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 100 1.97x
Wirksworth 78 104.56x
Aston 77 2.12x
Tideswell 73 205.00x
Camberwell 70 2.09x
Birmingham 61 1.38x
Nottingham St Mary 58 3.17x
Leicester St Margaret 57 4.02x
Brighton 46 2.58x
Oldham 45 2.24x
Sheffield 45 2.72x
Ecclesall Bierlow 40 3.79x
Heanor 37 30.15x
Salford 37 2.02x
Bermondsey 36 2.31x
Everton 36 1.82x
Hackney London 36 1.23x
Kensington London 36 1.24x
Selston 36 45.62x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 35 7.23x
St Marylebone London 35 1.25x
Ilkeston 33 14.34x
Manchester 32 1.14x
Newington 32 1.65x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 31 1.10x
St Pancras London 31 0.73x
Shillington 30 75.06x
Wisbech St Peter 30 18.02x
Brightside Bierlow 29 2.85x
Dagenham 29 47.10x
Govan 29 0.69x
Barony 27 0.63x
Bethnal Green London 27 1.19x
Tottenham 27 3.23x
West Hallam 27 254.24x
Coventry St Michael 26 6.12x
Shoreditch London 26 1.14x
E Adderbury 25 153.28x
South Normanton 25 43.37x
Marston Trussell 24 648.65x
Morpeth 24 26.17x
Berkhampstead 23 28.32x
Godmanchester 23 58.44x
Glossop Dale 22 5.73x
Hasland 22 26.34x
Walcot 22 4.90x
Battersea 21 1.09x
Broughton In Salford 21 3.69x
Canterbury St Dunstan 21 68.05x
Poplar London 21 2.12x
West Ham 20 0.88x
Droylsden 19 9.36x
Eynesbury 19 78.81x
Leeds 19 0.65x
Liversedge 19 8.22x
Wetheringsett Cum 19 102.43x
Coundon 18 28.48x
Croydon 18 1.27x
Newton 18 3.76x
Saxlingham Nethergate 18 188.28x
Buxton 17 24.48x
Crich 17 31.75x
Horsham 17 9.90x
Luton 17 3.62x
Mile End Old Town London 17 1.52x
Pocklington 17 34.67x
West Derby 17 0.93x
Alfreton 16 6.42x
Dorking 16 9.33x
Belper 15 9.43x
Neithrop 15 13.79x
Nuthurst 15 102.60x
Radford 15 4.18x
Reigate Foreign 15 5.42x
Ripley 15 14.79x
Rugby 15 8.39x
Stoke Newington London 15 3.67x
Gateshead 14 1.20x
Hitchin 14 8.59x
Linlithgow 14 13.83x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 350
Sarah 183
Elizabeth 178
Ann 104
Jane 98
Eliza 96
Emma 79
Annie 70
Hannah 69
Alice 63
Emily 61
Ellen 60
Martha 48
Charlotte 40
Fanny 38
Clara 36
Florence 36
Ada 35
Louisa 33
Margaret 32
Maria 31
Caroline 29
Harriet 29
Lucy 29
Edith 27
Kate 27
Frances 26
Susan 26
Anne 19
Catherine 19
Harriett 18
Esther 17
Rose 17
Gertrude 16
Agnes 15
Rebecca 15
Amy 14
Bertha 12
Grace 12
Isabella 12
Jessie 12
Beatrice 10
Sophia 10
Amelia 9
Lilian 9
Matilda 9
Maud 9
Elizth. 8
Laura 8
Ruth 8

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 335
John 279
George 197
James 152
Thomas 144
Henry 127
Charles 98
Joseph 74
Samuel 71
Alfred 69
Arthur 62
Robert 60
Edward 58
Frederick 53
Harry 40
Walter 36
Richard 33
Albert 31
Ernest 26
Herbert 22
Frank 19
Benjamin 17
Francis 16
Edwin 14
Tom 13
Lewis 12
Mark 10
Wm. 10
Fred 9
Matthew 9
David 8
Geo. 8
Sidney 8
Thos. 8
Abraham 7
Chas. 7
Leonard 7
Daniel 6
Frederic 6
Isaac 6
Job 6
Saml. 6
Stephen 6
Edgar 5
Luke 5
Allen 4
Christopher 4
Fredk. 4
Harold 4
Hiram 4

FAQ

Flint surname: questions and answers

How common was the Flint surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,373 people were recorded with the Flint surname. That placed it at #828 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Flint surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 6,619 in 2016. That gives Flint a modern rank of #1,019.

What does the Flint surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a significant outcrop of flint rock.

What does the Flint map show?

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