FLATT
Flatt is a surname of primarily English provenance, although it is linked to pre‑7th century Germanic roots. The English element is derived from the Old English word flæt, which means “flat” or “level.” As a topographic surname it was applied to people who lived on or near a flat or low‑lying stretch of land; in some cases the name was also used as a descriptive nickname for an individual of broad or comparatively short stature.
The earliest documented spelling of the name occurs in the Subsidy Tax Rolls of 1327, where a John Flate of Derbyshire is recorded. Earlier, an entry for Ralph Flatt dated 1221 appears in the annals of the reign of King Henry III. The surname was also recorded in medieval English church records, for example as Thomas del Flat in the Friary Rolls of 1349 and Thomas Flather in 1550. Variants of the surname that are attested in English sources include Flate, Flat, Flatman, Flatts, Flatte, Flattes, Flatter, Flather, and Flatters. The diversity of spellings reflects regional pronunciation differences and the evolution of English dialects over the centuries.
In addition to its English use, the surname has a German component. It may be an occupational name for a fletcher, derived from the Middle High German word vlac meaning “arrow.” Alternatively, it may function as a topographic name stemming from the Middle High German vlates, referring to an individual dwelling near a significant flat area or alluvial plain. Historical German records contain early examples such as Otto Flader in 1343 and Johann, son of Siegmund Flather, born in 1781 in Cainsdorf, Zwickau, Sachsen. The variation of forms such as Flat and Flett among German-speaking populations further illustrates the shared linguistic ancestry with the English surname.
The distribution of the Flatt surname has expanded beyond the British Isles through emigration, particularly during periods of British colonisation and later settlement movements. In the United States the name is most commonly found in the Midwest, especially in states such as Indiana, Illinois and Missouri. In Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom it remains more concentrated, with clusters noted in Yorkshire and Lancashire. The density of bearers of the surname varies over time, influenced by migration patterns, naturalisation, and the broader demographic shifts that affect all family names.
Typical given names associated with the Flatt surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- Daniel
- David
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
- Roger
- Stephen
Female
- Brenda
- Christine
- Dianne
- Elizabeth
- Helen
- Julie
- Karen
- Kathleen
- Linda
- Patricia
- Sally
- Sandra
- Sarah
- Susan
- Valerie
Similar and related surnames
- Flath
- Flateau
- Flatau
- Flat
- Flaitt
- Flate
- Flatto
- Falade
- Falat
- Falati
- Falato
- Fald
- Falda
- Faldo
- Faldu
- Faletau
- Faleti
- Falett
- Faletti
- Faletto
- Fallet
- Fallett
- Falletta
- Falletti
- Falode
- Falodi
- Falt
- Falta
- Faludi
- Fauld
- Faulde
- Fault
- Fawlett
- Feild
- Feld
- Felda
- Feldt
- Feledi
- Felet
- Felt
- Feltoe
- Feuillade
- Feuillat
- Feuillet
- Ffield
- Ffloyd
- Ffolliott
- Field
- Fielde
- Fieldea
- Fiellateau
- Fild
- Filet
- Filetti
- Fillaudeau
- Fillaut
- Fillet
- Fillett
- Filletti
- Filt
- Fiolet
- Flad
- Flade
- Fladee
- Flatow
- Flatten
- Flatter
- Flattey
- Flattly
- Flatts
- Flatty
- Flaut
- Flauta
- Fleat
- Fleet
- Fleete
- Flet
- Flete
- Fletes
- Fleth
- Flett
- Flide
- Flit
- Flite
- Flitt
- Flitti
- Flloyd
- Fload
- Float
- Floate
- Flod
- Floid
- Flood
- Floode
- Flote
- Floto
- Flott
- Floud
- Flout
- Floute
- Floyd
- Floydd
- Floyde
- Flud
- Fludd
- Flude
- Fluet
- Fluett
- Fluid
- Fluit
- Fluitt
- Flut
- Flute
- Flutt
- Flyat
- Flyde
- Flyte
- Folad
- Fold
- Foldi
- Folet
- Foletti
- Foletto
- Follad
- Follet
- Follett
- Follette
- Folliot
- Folliott
- Follit
- Follitt
- Folta
- Foolat
- Foolett
- Foolitt
- Fouillet
- Fouladi
- Fould
- Foulde
- Fuillet
- Fulat
- Fuld
- Fulda
- Fulde
- Fulett
- Fullet
- Fullett
- Fulto
- Fyfield
- Phillott
- Philott
- Vailati
- Valadao
- Valade
- Valat
- Vald
- Valda
- Valdi
- Valet
- Valetta
- Valette
- Valido
- Vallade
- Vallat
- Vallet
- Vallett
- Valletta
- Vallot
- Valot
- Valota
- Valoti
- Valotto
- Valt
- Valuta
- Veillet
- Veillette
- Velati
- Veld
- Velde
- Veldi
- Vellodi
- Velluet
- Velotta
- Velt
- Viallet
- Vilde
- Vilette
- Villada
- Villate
- Villatte
- Villet
- Villette
- Villot
- Villota
- Vilt
- Viltte
- Violet
- Violeta
- Violett
- Violetta
- Violette
- Viollet
- Violte
- Vlad
- Vlada
- Vladi
- Vladoi
- Vladu
- Vliet
- Voilet
- Vold
- Volet
- Voleti
- Vollet
- Vollett
- Volt
- Volta
- Volto
- Voult
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Flatt in...
Braille
⠋⠇⠁⠞⠞
Morse
..-..-...---
Semaphore
There are approximately 1,438 people named Flatt in the UK. That makes it roughly the 5,540th most common surname in Britain. Around 22 in a million people in Britain are named Flatt.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Flatt
- Jonathan Flatt - Football player
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.