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

Avans, 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 Avans surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Avans in America

Avans is the 35447th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Avans surname appeared 635 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 Avans.

We can also compare 2010 data for Avans 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 Avans

The surname Avans has its origins in the Netherlands, emerging in the 16th century. It is believed to derive from the Dutch word "avond," meaning "evening" or "night," potentially indicating an occupation or characteristic associated with an ancestor. Alternatively, it could stem from the place name Avans, a small village near the city of Tilburg in the southern province of Noord-Brabant.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Avans can be found in the Dutch town records of Delft, dating back to the late 1500s. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Avants," "Avanse," and "Avansse," reflecting the fluidity of orthography during that period.

In the 17th century, a notable figure bearing the name Avans was Pieter Avans (1620-1689), a skilled artist known for his landscape paintings and depictions of rural life in the Dutch Golden Age. His works can be found in prestigious collections, including the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

Another historical figure of note was Jan Avans (1765-1837), a Dutch military officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars. He rose through the ranks and was awarded the Legion of Honor for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

In the realm of literature, the name Avans is associated with the Dutch author and poet, Willem Avans (1822-1892). Born in Rotterdam, he gained recognition for his poetic works that celebrated the beauty of nature and the Dutch countryside.

Moving into the 20th century, one cannot overlook the contributions of Johanna Avans (1902-1985), a pioneering Dutch aviator and one of the first women to obtain a pilot's license in the Netherlands. She made significant strides in promoting aviation and encouraging women to pursue careers in the field.

Despite its Dutch origins, the surname Avans has spread to various parts of the world due to migration patterns and cultural exchanges throughout history. However, its roots can be traced back to the Low Countries, where it emerged as a distinctive surname reflecting the rich tapestry of Dutch heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Avans

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

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

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

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