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

Vandam, 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 Vandam surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vandam in America

Vandam is the 13376th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vandam surname appeared 2,277 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Vandam.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vandam 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 Vandam

The surname VANDAM originates from the Netherlands and has its roots in the Dutch language. The name can be traced back to the 15th century, and it is believed to be derived from the combination of the Dutch words "van" meaning "from" and "dam" meaning "dam" or "dike."

This surname likely originated in the low-lying regions of the Netherlands, where dams and dikes were crucial for water management and land reclamation. It is possible that the name was initially given to individuals who lived near or worked on these water control structures.

In the 16th century, the VANDAM surname can be found in various historical records and documents from the Netherlands. One notable mention is in the Amsterdamse Archief, which contains records of the city of Amsterdam, where several individuals with the VANDAM surname are listed.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname VANDAM dates back to 1492, when a man named Dirck VANDAM was mentioned in a legal document from the city of Leiden. Another early reference is from 1517, when a man named Jan VANDAM was recorded in the archives of the city of Delft.

Over the centuries, the VANDAM surname has been associated with several notable individuals. One such person was Rip VANDAM, a Dutch painter who lived from 1663 to 1719 and was known for his landscapes and genre scenes.

Another prominent figure was Jacob VANDAM, a Dutch statesman and diplomat who served as the ambassador to England from 1672 to 1677. He played a crucial role in negotiating the Treaty of Westminster, which ended the Third Anglo-Dutch War.

In the 18th century, a man named Hendrick VANDAM was a successful merchant and landowner in the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia). He made significant contributions to the development of the colony and left a lasting legacy in the region.

Pieter VANDAM, born in 1745, was a Dutch naval officer who participated in several battles during the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War. He achieved the rank of Vice Admiral and is remembered for his bravery and leadership.

During the 19th century, Everardus VANDAM was a notable Dutch theologian and author. Born in 1806, he wrote extensively on religious topics and served as a minister in several churches throughout the Netherlands.

While the VANDAM surname has its origins in the Netherlands, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. However, its historical significance and connection to the Dutch culture and landscape remain prominent.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vandam

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

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

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

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