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

Fliess, 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 Fliess surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fliess in America

Fliess is the 113155th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fliess surname appeared 155 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 Fliess.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fliess 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 Fliess

The surname FLIESS is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word "vliezen," which means "to flow" or "to stream." It is believed to have originated in the region of Bavaria during the medieval period.

The earliest known record of the surname can be traced back to the 13th century, where it appeared in various forms, such as "Vlieszer," "Fließer," and "Fliessner." These variations likely referred to individuals who lived near a river or stream, or those who worked as millers or tanners, professions that relied heavily on flowing water.

One of the earliest documented instances of the FLIESS surname can be found in the Bavarian town of Landshut, where a certain Hans Fliess was mentioned in a legal document from 1462. This record suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the mid-15th century.

In the late 16th century, a notable figure named Johann Fliess (1546-1623) gained recognition as a Protestant theologian and writer. He authored several works on religious topics and was known for his controversial views on predestination and free will.

During the 17th century, the FLIESS surname spread beyond Bavaria to other parts of Germany, including Saxony and Silesia. One prominent individual from this era was Gottfried Fliess (1615-1690), a German jurist and legal scholar who served as a judge in the city of Dresden.

The 18th century saw the rise of another noteworthy individual with the FLIESS name, Johann Fliess (1718-1783), a German musician and composer who worked as the Kapellmeister (music director) at the court of the Prince-Bishop of Würzburg.

As the centuries progressed, the FLIESS surname continued to be associated with various professions and achievements. In the 19th century, Wilhelm Fliess (1858-1928), an Austrian physician and close friend of Sigmund Freud, became known for his controversial theories on biological periodicity and its influence on human behavior.

Throughout its long history, the surname FLIESS has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, musicians, and professionals. While its origins may be rooted in a specific geographic region, the name has since spread across Europe and beyond, reflecting the diverse journeys and contributions of those who bear it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fliess

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

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

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

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