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

Vandiver, 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 Vandiver surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vandiver in America

Vandiver is the 5551st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vandiver surname appeared 6,263 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Vandiver.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vandiver 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 Vandiver

The surname VANDIVER is of Dutch origin, with its roots tracing back to the Netherlands in the 16th century. It derives from the Dutch words "van der" meaning "from the" and "diver" which translates to "deep." The combination suggests the name may have originated from a place name referring to a deep location or a body of water.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name VANDIVER can be found in the Dutch municipality of Renswoude, where a family bearing the name resided in the late 1500s. Historical records from this region show variations in spelling, including "Van der Dyver" and "Van der Diver."

In the 17th century, the VANDIVER surname began appearing in historical documents in the British colonies of North America, suggesting that Dutch settlers bearing this name had immigrated to the New World. Notable individuals from this period include Jacob Vandiver, a farmer who settled in Virginia in the 1650s, and Pieter Vandiver, a merchant who established a trading post in New Amsterdam (present-day New York City) in the 1670s.

The VANDIVER name gained further prominence in the 18th century, with several individuals leaving their mark on history. William Vandiver (1715-1785) was a prominent landowner and politician in Maryland, serving in the state's General Assembly. In South Carolina, Rebecca Vandiver (1738-1810) was a renowned midwife and herbalist, known for her work in promoting maternal health and natural remedies.

During the American Revolutionary War, the VANDIVER name was associated with both loyalists and patriots. Captain John Vandiver (1745-1823) fought on the British side, while his brother, Thomas Vandiver (1749-1827), served in the Continental Army under General George Washington.

In the 19th century, the VANDIVER family continued to make significant contributions across various fields. Henry Vandiver (1802-1874) was a renowned educator and author, publishing several books on mathematics and philosophy. His contemporary, Sarah Vandiver (1815-1892), was a pioneering women's rights activist and abolitionist, working alongside prominent figures like Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony.

The VANDIVER surname has persisted through the centuries, with notable individuals continuing to shape different spheres of life. Some examples include the scientist and mathematician Harry Shults Vandiver (1882-1973), who made significant contributions to number theory, and the award-winning novelist and essayist Elizabeth Vandiver (born 1944), known for her works exploring themes of identity and the human experience.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vandiver

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

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

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

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