Flax
An occupational surname referring to someone who processed or sold flax, a plant used to make linen.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,296 Americans carry the last name Flax. That puts it at #15,015 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.67 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 149,283 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Flax surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
2.3K
1 in 149,283
Census rank
#15,015
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.0K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,967 bearers of the surname Flax in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.67 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 15015th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Flax, the largest self-reported group is White at 73.9%. The next largest groups are Black (21.0%) and Hispanic (3.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of 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.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Flax
Among Census respondents with the surname Flax, the largest self-reported group is White at 73.9%. The next largest groups are Black (21.0%) and Hispanic (3.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Flax bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Flax surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White73.9%
- Black or African American21.0%
- Hispanic or Latino3.2%
- Two or more races1.3%
- Unknown or suppressed0.6%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Flax surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #16,471 | #15,015 | 8.8% |
| Count | 1,607 | 1,967 | 22.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.60 | 0.67 | 11.7% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Flax bearers went from 1,607 to 1,967 (+22.4% change). The surname moved up 1,456 positions in the national ranking, going from #16,471 to #15,015.
FAQ
Flax surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Flax?
The surname Flax holds position #15,015 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,296 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.67 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Flax surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Flax, the largest self-reported group is White at 73.9%. The next largest groups are Black (21.0%) and Hispanic (3.2%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.