2000
#5,126
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 6,284
First available Census row
Per 100,000 2.33
Rare Last name
Vanderpool
Originated from Dutch, referring to someone who lived near a pool or small body of water.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 6,790 Americans carry the last name Vanderpool. That puts it at #5,646 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.98 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 50,479 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Vanderpool surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
6.8K
1 in 50,479
Census rank
#5,646
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
2.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
5.9K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 5,921 bearers of the surname Vanderpool in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.98 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 5646th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Vanderpool, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.2%) and Two or More Races (5.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Vanderpool
The surname VANDERPOOL is of Dutch origin and is believed to have originated in the Netherlands during the 16th century. The name is derived from the Dutch words "van der" meaning "from the" and "pool" meaning "pool" or "pond". Therefore, the name VANDERPOOL literally translates to "from the pool" or "from the pond".
One of the earliest recorded instances of the VANDERPOOL surname can be found in the Dutch province of Gelderland, where the name was associated with a particular location or area near a pool or pond. The name may have initially been used to identify someone who lived near or owned property adjacent to a body of water.
In the 17th century, as Dutch settlers began to migrate to the New World, the VANDERPOOL name made its way to North America, particularly to the Dutch colonies in what is now New York and New Jersey. Early records from this period show variations in the spelling of the name, such as VANDERPOOLE and VANDERPOOLEN.
One notable figure with the VANDERPOOL surname was Dirck Jansen VANDERPOOL, a Dutch immigrant who arrived in New Amsterdam (now New York City) in the mid-17th century. He was among the first settlers to establish a homestead on Long Island and played a role in the early development of the region.
Another prominent individual was Abraham VANDERPOOL (1710-1790), a merchant and landowner from New Jersey who served as a delegate to the Continental Congress during the American Revolutionary War. He was a vocal supporter of independence from British rule and played a crucial role in securing supplies for the Continental Army.
In the 19th century, the VANDERPOOL surname continued to spread across North America, with families settling in various parts of the United States and Canada. One notable figure from this period was George VANDERPOOL (1825-1897), a successful businessman and philanthropist from New York who made significant contributions to the establishment of educational institutions and public libraries.
Another noteworthy individual was Sarah VANDERPOOL (1858-1932), a pioneer in the field of nursing education. Born in Ohio, she played a pivotal role in establishing nursing programs and advocating for higher standards in nursing education and practice.
During the 20th century, the VANDERPOOL name gained further recognition with individuals such as James VANDERPOOL (1905-1988), an acclaimed artist and illustrator whose works were featured in numerous publications and exhibitions across the United States.
While the surname VANDERPOOL originated in the Netherlands and has a rich history spanning several centuries, it has become widely dispersed across different regions and cultures, with individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in various fields.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Vanderpool
Among Census respondents with the surname Vanderpool, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.2%) and Two or More Races (5.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Vanderpool bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Vanderpool surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White84.4% · 4,996
- Hispanic or Latino5.2% · 309
- Two or more races5.2% · 306
- Black or African American3.2% · 188
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.3% · 75
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8% · 47
Timeline
Historical Census data for Vanderpool
Vanderpool appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#5,557
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 6,257
-27 bearers (-0.4%)
Per 100,000 2.12
Rank movement Down 431 places
2020
#5,646
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 5,921
-336 bearers (-5.4%)
Per 100,000 1.98
Rank movement Down 89 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #5,126 | 6,284 | 2.33 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #5,557 | 6,257 | 2.12 | -27 bearers (-0.4%) | Down 431 places |
| 2020 | #5,646 | 5,921 | 1.98 | -336 bearers (-5.4%) | Down 89 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Vanderpool surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #5,557 | #5,646 | -1.6% |
| Count | 6,257 | 5,921 | -5.4% |
| Per 100K | 2.12 | 1.98 | -6.6% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Vanderpool bearers went from 6,257 to 5,921 (-5.4% change). The surname moved down 89 positions in the national ranking, going from #5,557 to #5,646.
FAQ
Vanderpool surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Vanderpool?
Name Census estimates that about 6,790 living Americans carry the surname Vanderpool. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 50,479 residents.
How common is Vanderpool?
Vanderpool ranks #5,646 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 1.98 per 100,000 residents, which is about 2 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 5,921 people with the surname Vanderpool. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (6,790), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 1.98 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 1.98 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 2 of them to have the surname Vanderpool.
Has Vanderpool become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Vanderpool went from 6,257 recorded bearers to 5,921. That is a decrease of 336 (-5.4%). In the national ranking it fell from #5,557 to #5,646.
What does the Census say about the background of Vanderpool?
Among Census respondents with the surname Vanderpool, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.2%) and Two or More Races (5.2%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Vanderpool in the 2020 Census, accounting for 84.4% (4,996 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Vanderpool appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (84.4%), Hispanic (5.2%), Two or More Races (5.2%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Vanderpool (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Vanderpool mean?
Originated from Dutch, referring to someone who lived near a pool or small body of water. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Vanderpool (1.98 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Vanderpool?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.