Fleming History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Fleming is a name that originated amongst the industrious people of Flanders The name came to Ireland with the Anglo-Norman settlers that followed the Strongbow led invasions of 1171 and 1172. 

The Fleming name is derived from the Old French word “flamanc,” which means a “Flemishperson” or simply a “Fleming.” “Many natives of that country joined William the Conqueror in the invasion of England. Several persons designated Flandrensis occur in Domesday Book; thus Winemar Flandrensis was a tenant in chief in co. Buckinghamshire, and Hugo Flandrensis in Bedfordshire. He assumed this surname in regard he came from Flanders, and assisted William at the Battle of Hastings.” [1]

Early Origins of the Fleming family

The surname Fleming was first found in the eastern Irish county of Meath. There, the family acquired considerable estates and built the Castle Slane.

In the early days there was much movement throughout what is now known as the British Isles. We note this entry for the family in Saltash, Cornwall: “This manor, which extends its jurisdiction into several parishes in Cornwall and Devonshire, belonged formerly to the ancient family of Fleming in Devonshire, Barons of Slane in Ireland. By the sons of a sister, and one of the co-heiresses of the Fleming family, it was sold in the sixteenth century to Thomas Wyvell, Esq. from whose family it passed by a female heir to the ancestor of Francis Wills, Esq. of Saltash, the present proprietor. ” [2]

“It is probable that Manely Fleming [in the parish of St. Veep, Cornwall] belonged originally to the ancient family of Flemings, since they bear one common name.” [2]

Early History of the Fleming family

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

Early Notables of the Fleming family (pre 1700)

Of note in the family at this time was Nicholas Fleming, Archbishop of Armagh from 1404 to 1416, best known for his “Fleming’s Register”; Rev. Richard Fleming, SJ (1542-1590), professor of philosophy in Paris.

Fleming World Ranking

In the United States, the name Fleming is the 258^th most popular surname with an estimated 101,967 people with that name. [3] However, in Canada, the name Fleming is ranked the 359^thmost popular surname with an estimated 12,664 people with that name. [4] And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Fleming is the 196^th popular surname with an estimated 212 people with that name. [5] Australia ranks Fleming as 212^nd with 15,680 people. [6] New Zealand ranks Fleming as 182^nd with 3,010 people. [7] The United Kingdom ranks Fleming as 286^th with 21,268 people. [8]

 Fleming migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Fleming Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Thomas Fleming, who landed in Jamestown, Va in 1616 [9]
• Richard Fleming, aged 24, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship “Plain Joan” [9]
• Richard Fleming, who settled in Virginia in 1635
• Abram Fleming, aged 40, who landed in New England in 1635 aboard the ship “Increase”, bound for Boston [9]
• Elizabeth Fleming, who arrived in Virginia in 1650 [9]

Fleming Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Margaret Fleming, who landed in Virginia in 1701 [9]
• Richard Fleming, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 [9]
• Alex Fleming, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 [9]
• John Fleming, who landed in Virginia in 1702 [9]
• James Fleming, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 [9]

Fleming Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• John Fleming, aged 24, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1803 [9]
• Margaret Fleming, aged 20, who arrived in New York, NY in 1804 [9]
• Helen Fleming, who arrived in Georgia in 1806 [9]
• Beatrice Fleming, who emigrated from Scotland to Georgia in 1806
• Beatrice Fleming, who arrived in Georgia in 1806 [9

 Fleming migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Fleming Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Joseph Fleming, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
• Mr. James Fleming U.E. who settled in New Brunswick c. 1784 he is listed with the Loyalists and Disbanded Soldiers whose names appear as Passamaquoddy New Brunswick Loyalists [10]

Fleming Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Mary Fleming, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1813
• James Fleming, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1814
• Mary Fleming, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1819
• Charles Fleming, who arrived in Canada in 1820
• Margaret Fleming, aged 20, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig “Maria” from Cork, Ireland

 Fleming migration to Australia+

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: 

Fleming Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. John Fleming, British Convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, Englandfor life for theft, transported aboard the “Earl Spencer” in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [11]
• Mr. Edward Fleming, (b. 1802), aged 18, Irish shoe maker who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years for felony, transported aboard the “Dorothy” on 5th May 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, listed as sent on to Newcastle via “Sally” in 1821 [12]
• Mr. Thomas Fleming, (Hamilton, Robertson), Scottish convict who was convicted in Perth, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the “Claudine” on 20th May 1821, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen’s Land) [13]
• Mr. John Fleming, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Earl St Vincent” on 20th April 1826, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen’s Land) [14]
• Mr. John Fleming, (b. 1779), aged 50, Irish black smith who was convicted in Cork, Irelandfor 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the “Eliza” on 2nd March 1829, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen’s Land) [15]

 Fleming migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: 

Fleming Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Samuel Fleming, who landed in Onehunga, Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
• Mr. William Fleming, British settler arriving as Detachment of the Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship “Sir George Symour” arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 26th November 1847 [16]
• S. Fleming, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship “Stately” arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 1st June 1851 [16]
• S. Fleming, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship “Stately” in 1851
• Mr. Michael Fleming, British settler travelling from Portsmouth aboard the ship “Duke of Portland” arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 13th October 1851 [17]

Contemporary Notables of the name Fleming (post 1700) +

• Commander Ian Lancaster Fleming (1908-1964), English author, journalist and Second World War Navy Commander, best remembered for creating the character of James Bond, but children remember him as the author of the story “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” [18]
• Sir Alexander Fleming (1881-1955), Scottish biologist and pharmacologist who discovered of penicillin (1928) and shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1945 [19]
• Frank Fleming (1953-2022), American politician, Member of the Montana House of Representatives (2018-2022)
• George Fleming (1937-2021), American multi-position college football player, inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame on December 31, 2011
• Rhonda Fleming (1923-2020), born Marilyn Louis, an American film and television actress who acted in more than 40 films, nicknamed the “Queen of Technicolor”
• Dave Fleming (1944-2020), American CFL football player who played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1965-1974)
• Thomas “Tom” Fleming (1951-2017), American four-time gold medalist marathon runner
• Martin Brendan Fleming (1926-2016), American politician, Mayor of Lowell, Massachusetts from 1982 to 1984
• Major-General Raymond Hartwell Fleming (1889-1974), American Adjutant-General of Louisiana (1960-1964) [20]
• Major-General Philip Bracken Fleming (1887-1955), American Under-Secretary of Commerce (1950-1951) [21]