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

Flyer, 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 Flyer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Flyer in America

Flyer is the 112568th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Flyer surname appeared 156 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 Flyer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Flyer 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 Flyer

The surname Flyer is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "flieger," which literally translates to "one who flies" or "aviator." It is believed to have emerged during the late 12th century, primarily in the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, where some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found.

One of the earliest known references to the name Flyer can be traced back to the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1195, which mention a certain "Richard le Flieger." This record suggests that the surname may have initially been used as a descriptive term for individuals involved in aviation-related activities or occupations.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various medieval documents, such as the Curia Regis Rolls of 1221, which record a "Walter le Flier" from Lincolnshire. The spelling variations of the name during this period include "Flyer," "Flier," and "Flyor," reflecting the evolution of language and regional dialects.

Interestingly, the surname Flyer may also have been associated with certain place names or locations. For instance, there is a village called Flyers Green in the county of Worcestershire, which could have contributed to the adoption of the surname by families residing in or near that area.

One notable figure bearing the surname Flyer was Sir John Flyer (1564-1631), a renowned English explorer and navigator who played a significant role in the early colonization efforts of North America. He was part of the expedition that established the Jamestown Colony in Virginia in 1607.

Another prominent individual was Elizabeth Flyer (1698-1776), a celebrated midwife and herbalist from Yorkshire, who was renowned for her expertise in traditional medicine and her contributions to the field of obstetrics.

In the 18th century, the Flyer name gained prominence with the birth of William Flyer (1732-1804), a renowned clockmaker and inventor from Lincolnshire, whose innovative timepiece designs were highly sought after by the British aristocracy.

During the 19th century, the Flyer surname was associated with aviation pioneers like Sir George Flyer (1819-1892), a pioneer in the field of aeronautics and the designer of several early flying machines.

The surname Flyer has also been carried by notable figures in various other fields, such as Charles Flyer (1876-1948), a respected linguist and scholar of ancient languages, and Emily Flyer (1901-1987), a celebrated artist and painter known for her landscape and portrait works.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Flyer

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

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

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

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