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

Flax, 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 Flax surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Flax in America

Flax is the 15015th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Flax surname appeared 1,967 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Flax.

We can also compare 2010 data for Flax 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 Flax

The surname FLAX originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "fleax," which referred to the flax plant used for making linen. This name likely originated as a descriptive name for someone who grew or processed flax.

Records show FLAX as a surname appearing in various parts of England as early as the 13th century. One of the earliest known bearers was Richard Flax, recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275. The surname is also found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, listing a Nicholas Flax.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are references to places like Flaxmere in Somerset and Flaxwell in Norfolk, which may have contributed to the development of the surname FLAX. These place names indicate areas where flax was likely cultivated or processed.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the FLAX surname became more widespread across England. Notable individuals with this surname include John Flax (c. 1570-1630), an English clergyman and writer, and Edward Flax (1646-1708), a English-born settler in colonial Virginia.

Other historical figures with the FLAX surname include:

1. William Flax (1779-1851), an English artist and engraver.
2. Thomas Flax (1808-1882), a British architect and surveyor.
3. Jane Flax (1822-1897), an English writer and educator.
4. John Flaxman (1755-1826), a renowned English sculptor and illustrator.
5. Joseph Flax (1825-1891), an English businessman and philanthropist.

The FLAX surname continues to be found worldwide, particularly in areas with historical English influence. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in England, where it was initially associated with the cultivation and processing of flax.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Flax

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

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

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

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