Vanark
A surname with Dutch origins, potentially referring to someone who lived near Noah's Ark.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 274 Americans carry the last name Vanark. That puts it at #83,834 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.08 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,250,928 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Vanark surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
274
1 in 1,250,928
Census rank
#83,834
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
224
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 224 bearers of the surname Vanark in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.08 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 83834th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Vanark, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.4%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Vanark
The surname VANARK is believed to have originated in the Netherlands during the 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the Dutch words "van" meaning "from" and "ark" meaning "ark" or "chest." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near or worked with arks or chests, perhaps a carpenter or craftsman.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name VANARK can be found in the baptismal records of the Dutch Reformed Church in Amsterdam, where a Johannes VANARK was baptized in 1592. Another early reference is found in the city archives of Leiden, where a merchant named Pieter VANARK is mentioned in a document dated 1618.
Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the VANARK name appeared in various records across the Netherlands, particularly in the provinces of North Holland and South Holland. Notable individuals with this surname include:
1. Willem VANARK (1624-1691), a renowned Dutch painter known for his landscapes and still-life works.
2. Adriana VANARK (1670-1742), a prominent figure in the Dutch East India Company, who served as the first female governor of the colony of Malacca from 1715 to 1720.
3. Jacobus VANARK (1728-1804), a Dutch philosopher and author who wrote extensively on the ideas of Enlightenment thinkers such as Voltaire and Rousseau.
4. Cornelis VANARK (1782-1856), a Dutch naval officer who played a significant role in the Napoleonic Wars, serving as the captain of the ship De Zeven Provinciën.
5. Johanna VANARK (1820-1892), a Dutch feminist and advocate for women's rights, who campaigned for equal educational opportunities and the right to vote.
As the Dutch colonized various parts of the world, the VANARK surname likely spread to other regions, though its origins can be traced back to the Low Countries. While some variations in spelling may have occurred over time, the name VANARK has retained its distinct Dutch roots and continues to be associated with the rich cultural heritage of the Netherlands.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Vanark
Among Census respondents with the surname Vanark, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.4%.
The bar chart below shows how Vanark bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Vanark surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White96.4%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Vanark surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #83,834 | #83,834 | 0.0% |
| Count | 224 | 224 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.08 | 0.08 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Vanark bearers went from 224 to 224 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #83,834 to #83,834.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Vanark
FAQ
Vanark surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Vanark?
The surname Vanark holds position #83,834 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 274 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.08 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Vanark surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Vanark, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.4%. These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.