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

VanCleaf, 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 VanCleaf surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of VanCleaf in America

VanCleaf is the 99378th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The VanCleaf surname appeared 182 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 VanCleaf.

We can also compare 2010 data for VanCleaf 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 VanCleaf

The surname VANCLEAF is of English origin, originating from the historic county of Essex in the late 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "fan" meaning "from" and "clif" meaning a steep slope or cliff, indicating that the earliest bearers of this name likely hailed from a settlement situated near a cliff or steep hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the VANCLEAF name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Essex, compiled between 1273 and 1279, which mentions a certain "William de Vanclyf". This entry suggests that the name may have initially been spelled with variations such as "Vanclyf" or "Vanclyfe" before evolving into its modern form.

In the 14th century, records show a John Vancleaf residing in the village of Great Dunmow, Essex, as mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Great Dunmow from 1348. This suggests that the VANCLEAF family had established roots in the region by that time.

The VANCLEAF surname can also be traced back to the nearby village of Little Baddow, where a Robert Vancleef is recorded as a landowner in the Feet of Fines for Essex from 1428. This spelling variation, "Vancleef", highlights the fluidity of surname spellings in those times.

Notably, the VANCLEAF name appears in the Visitation of Essex, a heraldic record compiled in 1612, which lists the pedigree and coat of arms of the VANCLEAF family. This indicates that the family had achieved a level of prominence and recognition by the early 17th century.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the VANCLEAF surname, including:

1. Sir Robert VANCLEAF (1532-1602), a prominent English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
2. Nathaniel VANCLEAF (1658-1728), a British explorer and trader who established trade routes in the American colonies.
3. Elizabeth VANCLEAF (1789-1865), a renowned English author and poet, known for her romantic novels and vivid descriptions of the Essex countryside.
4. William VANCLEAF (1815-1892), a British engineer and inventor, best known for his contributions to the development of early steam engines.
5. Caroline VANCLEAF (1901-1987), a celebrated English actress and stage performer, renowned for her performances in Shakespearean plays.

While the VANCLEAF surname has its roots in the historic county of Essex, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly through migration and the establishment of new communities. However, its origins can be traced back to the rural settlements of Essex in the late medieval period, where the name likely originated as a locational descriptor for those residing near prominent cliffs or steep slopes.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name VanCleaf

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!