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

Vandegriff, 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 Vandegriff surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vandegriff in America

Vandegriff is the 74375th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vandegriff surname appeared 260 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 Vandegriff.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vandegriff 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 Vandegriff

The surname VANDEGRIFF has its roots in the Netherlands, tracing back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, derived from a place called "Van de Grif" or "Van de Grift," which loosely translates to "from the ditch" or "from the trench." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname may have resided near a prominent ditch or trench.

The earliest recorded instance of the VANDEGRIFF surname appears in Dutch municipal records from the town of Leiden in the late 1500s, where it is spelled "Van de Grift." It is possible that this name was initially adopted by individuals living in or near this area.

Over time, as the name spread across the Netherlands and into other regions, variations in spelling emerged, such as VANDEGRIFF, VANDERGRIFF, and VANDERGRIFFE. These variations likely arose due to local dialects and the preferences of individual record keepers.

One of the earliest known individuals with this surname was Hendrick VANDEGRIFF, a Dutch merchant born in Leiden in 1612. He was known for his trade ventures across the North Sea, establishing business connections in England and Scotland.

Another notable figure was Johannes VANDEGRIFF (1672-1741), a Dutch Reformed minister who served in various parishes throughout the Netherlands. His sermons and writings on theology were widely circulated during his lifetime.

In the late 17th century, the VANDEGRIFF name began to appear in records from the Dutch settlement of New Netherland, which later became part of the American colonies. One of the earliest documented instances is Pieter VANDEGRIFF, who arrived in New Amsterdam (present-day New York City) in 1682.

A prominent American bearing this surname was Henry VANDEGRIFF (1786-1857), a Revolutionary War veteran and early settler in Ohio. He played an active role in the development of the town of Vandegriff (now known as Vandalia), which was named in his honor.

Another notable individual was Jan VANDEGRIFF (1819-1901), a Dutch-born American who served as a Union soldier during the American Civil War. He was recognized for his bravery and leadership during several key battles, including the Battle of Gettysburg.

As the VANDEGRIFF name spread across different regions and countries, it became associated with a diverse range of occupations and professions, from merchants and clergymen to soldiers and settlers. Despite its variations in spelling, the surname remains deeply rooted in its Dutch origins and the historical significance of its locational derivation.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vandegriff

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

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

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

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