NomOrigine Background

Last Name Flies

What is the origin of the last name Flies?

The surname "Flies" is of German and Dutch origin. It is an occupational name for a fisherman, derived from the Middle High German word "vliessende" meaning 'flowing' or the Middle Dutch word "vlis" meaning 'fishing weir'. Over time, it has been spelled variously as Vlies, Flies, Fliess, etc., due to linguistic changes and regional variations. The name may also be found in Sweden and other Scandinavian countries, where it was adopted by German settlers.

Learn more about the origin of the last name Flies

The meaning and origin of the last name Flies

The surname Flies is of German and Dutch origin, derived from the Middle High German word "fliez" or Dutch "vlies," which means 'cloth' or 'sailcloth.' Initially, it was an occupational name for a maker or seller of sails or cloth. Over time, it could have also been used as a topographic name for someone who lived near a place where cloth was manufactured or sold. The spelling variations include Flyes, Fliess, Vlies, and others, reflecting the linguistic shifts over centuries. This surname is predominantly found among German and Dutch communities but has also spread worldwide due to migration waves, particularly during the 17th and 18th centuries when many Germans immigrated to North America.

Geographical distribution of the last name Flies

The surname Flies is primarily found in European countries, particularly Germany and the Netherlands. It originates from the Old High German word "flihhi," meaning "fly" or "bird." In Germany, it's most prevalent in the regions of Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Hesse. In the Netherlands, it is concentrated in the provinces of North Brabant, Limburg, and Gelderland. Smaller numbers of people with this surname can also be found in Belgium, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. Additionally, due to historical migration patterns, there are Flies families in various parts of North America, notably the United States and Canada.

Variants and spellings of the last name Flies

The surname Flies or Flyes (with the 'y' variant being less common) has multiple spelling variations due to differences in phonetic interpretation, historical recording methods, and cultural influences over time. Some variations include Fliess, Fleiss, Vliez, Fleyes, Fleis, and Foyle. These changes may occur as a result of regional dialects, migratory patterns, or errors in transcription during the recording process. It is important to note that while these spellings may differ, they all trace back to the original name, Flies/Flyes, which is of Germanic origin and is derived from the Middle High German word "fliussen," meaning "to flow."

Famous people with the last name Flies

The Flies family has produced several notable figures across various fields. Perhaps the most renowned member is Jürgen Fließ (born as Günter Rudolf Felix Fließ), a German-Austrian psychiatrist and philosopher who collaborated with psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, best known for his work on anxiety neuroses. In literature, the family has produced Hans-Jürgen Fließ (1923–1980), a German writer and translator known for his works on children's literature. Additionally, Wolfgang Fließ (born 1954) is a German mathematician who specializes in combinatorics, graph theory, and optimization. Lastly, Florian K. C. Flies (born 1973) is a Swiss theoretical physicist known for his work on quantum information theory and quantum computing at the University of California, Berkeley. The family's diverse contributions to psychology, literature, mathematics, and physics reflect their intellectual accomplishments and impact in multiple disciplines.

Genealogical research on the last name Flies

The surname Flies originates from Germany and is primarily found in the Rhineland-Palatinate region. It is an occupational name derived from the Middle High German word "fliez" or "fliess," meaning 'to flow' or 'stream.' Initially, it referred to someone who worked as a miller or lived near a river or stream. Over time, various spelling variations of the name emerged due to regional dialects and transcribing errors, such as Fleiss, Fleiz, Flyes, and Vlies. Notable individuals bearing this surname include Johann Heinrich Flies (1743-1804), a renowned German mathematician, and Wilhelm Flitner von Flies (1829-1907), an Austrian general who served in the Austro-Hungarian army. The Flies family tree can be traced back to the late 16th century, with branches expanding throughout Europe during the following centuries, particularly in Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands.

Last name distribution maps

Chargement de la carte...

Sources & References

About the author :
NomOrigine Team
NomOrigine Team
Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.
Last updated : 10 June 2025

Share the origin of your last name with your friends

Search the origin of a family name

Enter the surname you are looking for below:

Similar Last Names

Flichet (Last name)

surnames > flichet

The origin of the last name "Flichet" is French. It is derived from the French word "flechette," which means "dart" or "arrow."

Flichman (Last name)

surnames > flichman

The last name Flichman is of German origin. It is derived from the word "flecks," which means "spark" or "speck." Over time, it may have evolved into various spellings such as Flic...

Flick (Last name)

surnames > flick

The surname "Flick" has German origins. It is derived from the medieval given name "Flinck," which was a short form of "Friedrich" or "Fredrick" meaning "peaceful ruler." Over time...

Fliess (Last name)

surnames > fliess

The surname "Fliess" is of German origin. It is derived from the Old High German word "flius," which means "blow" or "wind." The surname likely originated as a nickname for someone...

Fliex (Last name)

surnames > fliex

The surname Fliex is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word "vlichs," meaning "flight" or "escape." It is likely that the surname was originally given to ...

Flifel (Last name)

surnames > flifel

The last name "Flifel" is of Arabic origin and is believed to be derived from the Arabic word "felfel", which means "pepper". This name may have originated as a nickname or occupat...

Flight cases (Last name)

surnames > flight-cases

The last name "Flight" is of English origin. It is derived from the Old English word "fleoght," meaning "flight," and may have originally been a nickname for a fleet-footed or quic...

Flila (Last name)

surnames > flila

The last name Flila is of Algerian origin.

Flis (Last name)

surnames > flis

The surname Flis is of Slavic origin, specifically from Eastern Europe. It can be found among several ethnic groups such as Poles, Ukrainians, Belarusians, and Russians. The name l...

Flister (Last name)

surnames > flister

The last name "Flister" is believed to be of English origin. It is thought to be a surname derived from the Old English word "flette," meaning a flat open area of land or a marsh. ...

Flith (Last name)

surnames > flith

The last name "Flith" is believed to have originated in England. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "flith," meaning peace or protection. Over time, the name may...

Flitt (Last name)

surnames > flitt

The surname Flitt is believed to have origins in England and Scotland. It is derived from an Old English word "fleot" which means "stream," "river," or "brook." It may have been a ...

Flitter (Last name)

surnames > flitter

The last name "Flitter" is of English origin and is derived from the Old English word "fliht," meaning "to fly" or "to take flight." It is believed to have been a nickname or occup...

Flitti (Last name)

surnames > flitti

The surname Flitti is of Italian origin. It is believed to be derived from the Medieval Latin word "filius," which means "son." It is commonly used as a patronymic surname, indicat...

Flitton (Last name)

surnames > flitton

The surname Flitton is of English origin, specifically from the counties of Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire. It is an occupational name for a worker who made fish traps or nets, ...