John Fleming’s Web Site

Nil Illigitimus Carborundum

FLEMING, Flemyng, Fleeming.

A surname sufficiently indicative of the nationality of its original bearers. In NF le Fleming, Latinized Flandrensis, a native of Flanders. Several individuals of the name appear in record in the second half of the 12th century but the relationship, if any, between them is unknown. Large territories in the upper ward of Larnarkshire were later in possession of a family of this name. Their residence was Boghall castle near Biggar. Theobold the Fleming (Theobaldus Flamaticus) had a grant of land on the Douglas Water from the abbot of Kelso between 1147-60. Baldwin the Fleming was sheriff of Lanark c.1150. Jordan Fleming was taken prisoner at Alnwick along with William the Lion in 1174. About 1177 Symone Flamench witnessed a charter by Eschina, wife of Walter the Steward (Note: Was this the first arrangement between a Stewart and a Fleming?). Ricardus Flammanc witnessed a charter by Robert Bruce c. 1190 and as Flammanc he attested a charter by William Bruce to Adam de Carlyle, c. 1194-1214. Between 1189-99 William Flandrensis witnessed gift of the church of Gutherin (Guthrie) to the Abbey of Arbroath by William the Lion, and probably within the same dates he witnessed the grant of the lands of Herol (Errol) to David de Haia, son of William de Haia. Symon Flandresis was one of the perambulators of the lands of Kinalchmund between 1211-14. Adam Flamanke witnessed resignation of lands in Annandale a. 1245. William fflamang witnessed a grant by Hugh de Bygris 1228. Bartholomew Flamang attested an agreement between the bishop of Moray and John Byseth in 1258, and c.1260 Duncan (note the Gaelic forename) Flandrensi witnessed a donation to the Abbey of Paisley. William le Fleming, knight, of Lanarkshire, rendered homage,1296. His seal bears a fesse surmounted of a bend, S’ Will’i Flandrensis. Matheus de Flandre witnessed a charter by Herbert de Maxwel to Paisley, c. 1300. James Fleeman or Fleming (1713-1778), was the fool, as part of the establishment of the family of Udny of that Ilk, the last family in Scotland, it is said, to have maintained one.

(Extract from “The Surnames of Scotland” by George Black)

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