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

Flexer, 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 Flexer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Flexer in America

Flexer is the 60636th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Flexer surname appeared 332 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 Flexer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Flexer 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 Flexer

The surname Flexer originated in Germany during the late Middle Ages, derived from the German occupational name "Flex" or "Flecks," which referred to a flax worker or flax dealer. Flax was a crucial crop used for producing linen and other textiles, and those involved in its cultivation or trade often adopted surnames reflecting their trade.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Flexer can be traced back to the 14th century in various German regions. In 1375, a certain Hans Flexer was mentioned in the records of the city of Augsburg. Additionally, the surname appears in the archives of Nuremberg, with a reference to a merchant named Konrad Flexer in 1392.

During the 16th century, the Flexer surname gained recognition when Johann Flexer (1501-1572), a renowned Lutheran theologian and reformer, became a prominent figure in the Protestant Reformation movement. He was born in Augsburg and played a crucial role in the establishment of Lutheranism in southern Germany.

In the 17th century, the Flexer family gained prominence in the city of Ulm, where they were involved in the textile trade. One notable member was Matthias Flexer (1629-1698), a successful merchant and civic leader who served as a councilman and mayor of Ulm.

Another significant figure bearing the Flexer surname was Friedrich Flexer (1786-1860), a German philosopher and writer who lived in the 19th century. He was born in Nuremberg and is known for his works on ethics and social philosophy, which influenced the intellectual discourse of his time.

As the Flexer family spread across Germany and other parts of Europe, variations in spelling emerged, including Flexxer, Flexser, and Fleckser. However, the core meaning and origin remained rooted in the flax trade and textile industry.

In the 19th century, the Flexer surname gained international recognition when Johann Gottlieb Flexer (1818-1891), a German watchmaker and inventor, immigrated to the United States. He settled in Philadelphia and patented several innovative timepiece designs, contributing significantly to the American watchmaking industry.

While the Flexer surname may have evolved and spread globally, its origins can be traced back to the skilled flax workers and traders of medieval Germany, whose craftsmanship and dedication to their trade left a lasting legacy in the form of this distinctive surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Flexer

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

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

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

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