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

Flanders, 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 Flanders surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Flanders in America

Flanders is the 4043rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Flanders surname appeared 8,787 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Flanders.

We can also compare 2010 data for Flanders 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 Flanders

The surname Flanders originated in the region of Flanders, which spans parts of modern-day Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. The name first emerged in the Middle Ages, derived from the Old French term "Flandres," which referred to the inhabitants of this area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Flanders can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Ralph de Flandres, indicating the presence of individuals with this surname in England during the Norman period.

The name Flanders is closely associated with the County of Flanders, a historically significant region that played a pivotal role in the development of medieval Europe. This region, located in the Low Countries, was known for its prosperous cities, thriving textile industry, and influential mercantile activities.

Notable historical figures bearing the surname Flanders include Jan Flanders (c. 1285-1351), a Flemish statesman and diplomat who served as the ambassador of the County of Flanders to England during the reign of Edward III. Another prominent individual was Pieter Flanders (c. 1500-1567), a Flemish Renaissance painter renowned for his religious works and portraits.

In the literary realm, the surname Flanders is associated with the 16th-century poet and playwright, Everard Flanders (c. 1530-1590), whose works were influential in the development of Dutch literature. Additionally, the 17th-century Dutch Golden Age painter, Michiel Flanders (1620-1675), gained recognition for his genre scenes depicting everyday life in the Netherlands.

The surname Flanders also has connections to place names and older spellings. For instance, the town of Flanders, located in Suffolk County, New York, was established in the 17th century and likely derived its name from the region in Europe. Furthermore, variations in spelling, such as Flandres or Flaundres, were common in historical records.

Throughout history, the surname Flanders has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including artists, writers, politicians, and tradespeople, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and influence of the Flemish people across various spheres of society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Flanders

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

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 Flanders 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 Flanders 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 Flanders was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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