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

Flete, 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 Flete surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Flete in America

Flete is the 59171st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Flete surname appeared 342 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Flete.

We can also compare 2010 data for Flete 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 Flete

The surname Flete is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, derived from a place called Flete or Fleet, which was likely a small hamlet or village in the English countryside.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Flete can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Willelmus de Flete, suggesting that the name was already established by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the name Flete was predominantly concentrated in the southern and eastern regions of England, particularly in counties like Dorset, Somerset, and Norfolk. It is possible that the name evolved from an Old English word like "fleot," which meant a creek or inlet, referring to a geographical feature near the original settlement.

In the 13th century, records show a notable figure named John de Flete, who was a prominent scholar and theologian at the University of Oxford. He wrote several treatises on logic and philosophy, cementing his place in academic history.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Sir Thomas Flete, a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century. Born in 1776, he distinguished himself in several battles against the French navy and was knighted for his bravery and leadership.

In the literary realm, the name Flete appears in the works of Geoffrey Chaucer, the renowned English poet and author of "The Canterbury Tales." One of the characters in his famous work is referred to as "the Reeve of Flete," suggesting that the name was associated with a particular locality during Chaucer's time in the 14th century.

The surname Flete has also been linked to various place names throughout England, such as Fleet Street in London, which may have derived its name from the Old English word "fleot," referring to a stream or river that once flowed through the area.

Other notable individuals bearing the surname Flete include James Flete, a 17th-century English clergyman and author, and William Flete, a 19th-century British explorer who participated in expeditions to Africa and the Arctic regions.

Over time, the surname Flete has undergone various spelling variations, including Fleet, Fleete, and Fleets, reflecting the fluidity of language and regional dialects. However, its origins remain firmly rooted in the rich tapestry of English history and geography.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Flete

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

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

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

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