Flowers History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Anglo-Saxon name Flowers come from its first bearer, who was a beautiful person or perhaps of someone with a flowery personality. Further research revealed that the name is derived from the Old French word flur (which appears in Old English flur and flour), which meant flower. It could also be occupational; in the Middle Ages the word for flower and flour were the same, and might denote a maker of flour. This occupation usually shows up in a surname as Miller, though. Another occupation that could be indicated by this name is that of the fletcher, or maker of arrows. This is derived from the Old English word floer, from the Old English fla, which meant arrow. [1]

Early Origins of the Flowers family

The surname Flowers was first found in Devon where John le Floer and William Floere were both listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. [2] “The London Directory exhibits more than a quarter of a hundred of traders bearing this beautiful surname.” [3]

Further to the north in Yorkshire, William Flur was recorded there in the Pipe Rolls of 1203 and later, Edmund Flour was found in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1313. [4]

Later again, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included Johanna Floure and Matilda Flowre. [2]

Early History of the Flowers family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Flowers research.

Flowers Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Flowers has been spelled many different ways, including Flowers, Flower and others.

Early Notables of the Flowers family (pre 1700)

Notables of the family at this time include Roger Flower (d. 1428?), Speaker of the House of Commons, son of William Flower, Sheriff of Rutland in 1386-1387. William Flower (1498?-1588), was Norroy king of arms, born at York about 1498.

Flowers Ranking

In the United States, the name Flowers is the 399^th most popular surname with an estimated 69,636 people with that name. [5]

 Migration of the Flowers family to Ireland

Some of the Flowers family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.

 Flowers migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Flowerss to arrive in North America.