Find out how popular the last name Flagg is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Flagg.

Flagg, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Flagg surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Flagg in America

Flagg is the 5122nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Flagg surname appeared 6,834 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Flagg.

We can also compare 2010 data for Flagg to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Flagg

The surname Flagg is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "flagge," meaning a patch of land or a plot of ground. It first appeared in the 12th century and was initially used as a topographic name to identify someone who lived near a specific plot of land or a flagg.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Flagg can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1198, where a Robert de la Flagge is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established by the late 12th century.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are several references to places with similar names, such as "Flage" in Staffordshire and "Flagge" in Lincolnshire, which may have contributed to the development of the surname.

The name Flagg is also associated with various place names in England, such as Flagg in Derbyshire and Flagg Pasture in Yorkshire. These place names likely derived from the Old English word "flagge" and may have influenced the surname's origin and distribution.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Flagg. One of the earliest recorded was John Flagg, born in 1592 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, who was a prominent merchant and landowner.

Another notable figure was Gershom Flagg (1637-1692), an early American colonist and one of the founders of Lancaster, Massachusetts. He played a crucial role in the settlement and development of the town.

In the 18th century, Wilson Flagg (1786-1854) was an American author and naturalist known for his works on natural history and agriculture.

James Montgomery Flagg (1877-1960) was a renowned American artist and illustrator, best known for his iconic recruitment poster featuring Uncle Sam during World War I.

More recently, Kathryn Flagg (1892-1968) was an American sculptor and artist celebrated for her works depicting Native American subjects and themes.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the surname Flagg throughout history, highlighting its enduring presence and significance across various fields and regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Flagg

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Flagg.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Flagg was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Flagg has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Flagg was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Flagg, please contact us.

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