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

Van, 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 Van surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Van in America

Van is the 3320th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Van surname appeared 10,798 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Van.

We can also compare 2010 data for Van 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 Van

The surname "Van" originated in the Netherlands during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Dutch word "van," which means "from" or "of." This prefix was often added to surnames to indicate a person's place of origin or residence.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname "Van" can be traced back to the 13th century in various Dutch records and historical documents. It was commonly used in combination with a place name, such as "Van Amsterdam" or "Van Rotterdam," indicating that the person came from or lived in those respective cities or towns.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname "Van" was Jan Van Breda, who lived in the 14th century and was a prominent merchant in the city of Breda, located in the southern Netherlands. Another notable figure was Pieter Van Foreest (1521-1597), a Dutch physician and botanist who made significant contributions to the field of medicine.

In the 16th century, the surname "Van" appeared in various historical records, including the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule. Cornelis Van Hout (1545-1611) was a Dutch military commander who played a crucial role in the Siege of Antwerp during the Eighty Years' War.

During the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century, several individuals with the surname "Van" achieved prominence in various fields. Rembrandt Van Rijn (1606-1669) was a renowned Dutch painter and etcher, widely regarded as one of the greatest artists in history. Johannes Van der Waals (1837-1923) was a Dutch physicist who pioneered the study of thermodynamics and won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1910.

Another notable figure was Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890), a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter whose works, such as "The Starry Night" and "Sunflowers," have become iconic masterpieces. His unique style and innovative use of color and brushwork have had a profound influence on modern art.

Throughout history, the surname "Van" has been associated with many notable individuals from various fields, including art, science, politics, and literature. While its origins can be traced back to the Netherlands, the surname has since spread globally due to immigration and cultural exchange.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Van

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

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

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

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