Why Is It Called a Flea Market

The term “flea market” traces back to Paris in the 1880s, where outdoor markets selling secondhand goods became known as “marché aux puces,” literally “market of the fleas.” The name stuck, crossed the Atlantic, and now describes everything from Denio’s 70-acre operation in Roseville to small weekend swap meets in church parking lots.

The flea connection isn’t random. These markets earned their name honestly, though the exact reason remains debated by historians and etymologists.

Quick Answer: “Flea market” comes from the French “marché aux puces,” meaning “market of the fleas.” The name originated in Paris around 1880, referring to the Saint-Ouen market on the city’s northern outskirts. The most accepted theory: used furniture and clothing sold there often harbored fleas. The term spread to English by the 1920s and now describes any market selling secondhand or miscellaneous goods.

The Paris Origin

The first documented use of “marché aux puces” appears in French sources from the 1880s, describing the outdoor markets that formed around Porte de Clignancourt in Paris’s 18th arrondissement. Dealers pushed out of central Paris by urban renovation set up along the city walls, selling furniture, clothing, and household goods to working-class buyers.

The Saint-Ouen market, which still operates today as Les Puces de Saint-Ouen, became the template. Vendors spread their wares on the ground or makeshift tables. Buyers picked through piles of used goods. The atmosphere was chaotic, crowded, and, by most accounts, not particularly sanitary.

By 1891, the term appeared in print regularly enough to suggest common usage. The Parisian markets had earned their name, for better or worse.

Three Theories About the Name

Historians and linguists offer several explanations for why fleas became the defining feature of these markets.

Theory 1: The Fleas Were Literal

The simplest explanation: used goods sold at these markets actually harbored fleas. Upholstered furniture, wool clothing, and bedding from homes without modern pest control carried insect passengers. Buyers expected to inspect, clean, and possibly fumigate purchases before bringing them inside.

This theory has the most support among historians. Fleas were common household pests in 19th-century Europe. Used goods changed hands without cleaning. The connection between secondhand markets and flea infestation would have been obvious to anyone who shopped there.

Theory 2: A Colorful Metaphor

Some scholars suggest “puces” served as slang for the tiny, insignificant items sold at these markets. Just as fleas are small and numerous, the goods on offer were cheap, plentiful, and individually worthless. The market was a place to find small things, flea-sized bargains among the clutter.

This interpretation treats “flea” as figurative rather than literal. The metaphor would have resonated with Parisians familiar with the crowded, chaotic nature of these outdoor sales.

Theory 3: The Fly Market Connection

A competing theory traces “flea market” to New York rather than Paris. The Dutch-established Fly Market operated in lower Manhattan from the 1600s through the 1800s. “Fly” derived from the Dutch “vly” or “vlei,” meaning marsh or valley, describing the market’s location.

According to this theory, “Fly Market” gradually became “Flea Market” through linguistic drift or mishearing. The problem: documentary evidence for this transition is weak, and the French “marché aux puces” predates any recorded American use of “flea market.”

Most etymologists now dismiss the Fly Market theory, though it persists in some sources.

The Term Crosses the Atlantic

English speakers adopted “flea market” in the early 20th century. The first documented American usage appears in the 1920s, as Americans traveling to Paris encountered the famous Puces and translated the name directly.

By the 1940s and 1950s, “flea market” described American swap meets and secondhand markets. The term offered a colorful alternative to “rummage sale” or “junk market.” It suggested treasure hunting, European sophistication, and the thrill of bargain discovery.

California embraced the concept enthusiastically. The Rose Bowl Flea Market launched in 1968. Denio’s in Roseville, operating since 1947, adopted flea market terminology as the term gained popularity. Today, the phrase describes markets ranging from upscale antique fairs to neighborhood garage sale clusters.

What Qualifies as a Flea Market?

The term has stretched to cover almost any market selling miscellaneous goods. Purists might argue about definitions, but common usage includes:

Traditional flea markets: Outdoor or covered markets with multiple vendors selling used goods, antiques, collectibles, and miscellaneous items. Denio’s Roseville fits this category perfectly.

Swap meets: Originally car-focused trading events, now often synonymous with flea markets. The term is more common in California and the Southwest.

Antique fairs: Higher-end markets focusing on antiques and vintage items. The Sacramento Antique Faire falls here, though the line between “antique fair” and “flea market” blurs depending on vendor mix.

Farmers markets with vendors: Some farmers markets include craft and secondhand vendors alongside produce sellers, creating a hybrid format.

Indoor antique malls: Permanent locations like 57th Street Antique Mall share DNA with flea markets but operate year-round with fixed booth assignments.

The Sacramento Flea Market Scene

Sacramento’s flea market tradition dates back decades. Denio’s opened in 1947, initially as a farmers market before expanding into the swap meet format. The 70-acre site now hosts hundreds of vendors each weekend, selling everything from fresh produce to furniture to vintage collectibles.

The term “flea market” might seem quaint for an operation this size, but the spirit matches the Parisian original: multiple vendors, used and new goods mixed together, negotiation expected, and the promise of unexpected finds.

Other Sacramento-area markets carry the tradition forward. The Sacramento Antique Faire runs monthly downtown. Smaller swap meets pop up in parking lots and fairgrounds throughout the region. Each traces its concept back to those 1880s Paris markets where the name began.

Fleas No Longer Included

Modern flea markets bear little resemblance to their 19th-century ancestors. Health regulations, pest control, and changing consumer expectations have eliminated the literal flea problem. You won’t find infested furniture at Denio’s or any reputable market today.

The name persists because it works. “Flea market” conjures images of treasure hunting, unexpected discoveries, and deals waiting to be found. The phrase carries more charm than “secondhand goods market” or “miscellaneous vendor fair.”

Whether the original Parisian fleas were real or metaphorical, they gave us a term that’s lasted 140 years and shows no sign of fading.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it called a flea market?

The term comes from the French “marché aux puces” (market of the fleas), first used in 1880s Paris to describe outdoor secondhand markets. The most accepted explanation: used furniture and clothing sold there often harbored actual fleas. The name stuck and spread to English by the 1920s.

Where was the first flea market?

The first market called a “flea market” was the Saint-Ouen market in Paris, France, which formed in the 1880s on the city’s northern outskirts. It still operates today as Les Puces de Saint-Ouen, one of the world’s largest antique markets.

What is the difference between a flea market and a swap meet?

In common usage, the terms are interchangeable. “Swap meet” is more common in California and the Southwest, while “flea market” dominates in the East and Midwest. Originally, swap meets focused on trading rather than selling, but that distinction has largely disappeared.

Are flea markets the same as antique markets?

Not exactly. Antique markets or fairs focus specifically on antiques and vintage items, often with vetted dealers and higher price points. Flea markets include a broader mix: antiques, collectibles, new goods, crafts, and miscellaneous items. Many markets blend both categories.

When did flea markets come to America?

Americans adopted the term “flea market” in the 1920s, though secondhand markets existed earlier under other names. The flea market concept grew popular in the 1950s and 1960s, with iconic markets like the Rose Bowl Flea Market launching in 1968.