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

VanCott, 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 VanCott surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of VanCott in America

VanCott is the 36525th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The VanCott surname appeared 612 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 VanCott.

We can also compare 2010 data for VanCott 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 VanCott

The surname VANCOTT traces its origins to the Netherlands, where it emerged in the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Dutch words "van" and "cott," with the former meaning "from" and the latter referring to a small dwelling or cottage. Consequently, VANCOTT may have initially denoted an individual who hailed from a particular cottage or hamlet.

Historical records indicate that the name VANCOTT first appeared in Dutch municipal registers and census records in the late 1500s, particularly in the provinces of Gelderland and Utrecht. Variations in spelling, such as "Van Cott" and "VanCott," were not uncommon during that era.

One of the earliest documented instances of the VANCOTT name can be found in the baptismal records of the Reformed Church in Amsterdam, where a Dirck Janssen VanCott was christened in 1612. Another notable early bearer of the name was Jan VanCott, a merchant from Leiden, who is mentioned in ship manifests from the Dutch East India Company in the 1640s.

In the 17th century, several VANCOTT families immigrated to the Dutch colonies in North America, particularly the New Netherland settlement on Manhattan Island. One of the first recorded instances of the name in the New World is that of Gerrit Jansen VANCOTT, who arrived in New Amsterdam (present-day New York City) in 1654.

Throughout the centuries, the VANCOTT surname has been associated with various individuals of note. In the 18th century, Johannes VANCOTT (1712-1785) was a prominent Dutch painter known for his landscapes and seascapes. Another VANCOTT of historical significance was Pieter VANCOTT (1767-1839), a Dutch military officer who served under Napoleon Bonaparte and participated in the French Revolutionary Wars.

In the 19th century, the VANCOTT name gained prominence in the United States. Nathaniel VANCOTT (1811-1889) was a prominent lawyer and politician from New York, serving as a member of the state legislature and as a judge. His contemporary, John VANCOTT (1820-1902), was a successful businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of the city of Buffalo.

Moving into the 20th century, one cannot overlook the achievements of Elizabeth VANCOTT (1894-1976), an American educator and author who advocated for progressive teaching methods and wrote several influential books on child psychology and education.

While the VANCOTT surname has its roots in the Netherlands, it has since spread across various parts of the world, with notable bearers contributing to diverse fields such as art, military, politics, business, and education.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name VanCott

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

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

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

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