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

Vander, 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 Vander surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vander in America

Vander is the 52037th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vander surname appeared 399 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 Vander.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vander 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 Vander

The surname Vander is of Dutch origin, derived from the Dutch preposition "van der" meaning "from the" or "of the." The name likely emerged as a distinguishing label for individuals who hailed from a particular place or location.

During the Middle Ages, it was common practice across Europe to use descriptive surnames based on geographical origins, professions, or personal characteristics. The prefix "van der" denoted a connection to a specific region or settlement, often followed by a place name or topographical feature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Vander surname can be found in the Dutch province of Friesland, where it appeared in the 14th century as "Vander Wouden," indicating a person from the wooded area or forest. Over time, the name evolved into various spellings, such as Vanderwoude, Vanderwouden, and eventually, Vander.

In the 16th century, the Vander surname gained prominence in the Netherlands, with notable figures like Pieter Vander Aa (1530-1594), a Dutch military engineer and cartographer known for his fortification designs and maps of the Low Countries.

Another significant bearer of the Vander name was Joannes Vander Gracht (1587-1644), a Dutch Golden Age painter renowned for his genre scenes and portraiture. His works can be found in prestigious collections, including the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

During the 17th century, the Vander surname spread across Europe as Dutch emigrants settled in various regions. One notable example is Antoine Vander Meulen (1634-1690), a Flemish painter who worked for King Louis XIV of France and documented military campaigns through his artistic works.

In the United States, the Vander surname can be traced back to the early Dutch settlers in New Netherland (present-day New York) in the 17th century. Jacob Vander Heyden (1657-1728) was a prominent figure among the early Dutch settlers, serving as a magistrate and landowner in Albany, New York.

Another noteworthy American bearer of the Vander name was Gerard Vander Leun (1696-1773), a Dutch-born artist known for his portraits and religious paintings in the American colonies.

Throughout its history, the Vander surname has been associated with various occupations, including artists, military personnel, engineers, and landowners, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who carried this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vander

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

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

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

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