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

VanFossan, 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 VanFossan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of VanFossan in America

VanFossan is the 59017th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The VanFossan surname appeared 343 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 VanFossan.

We can also compare 2010 data for VanFossan 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 VanFossan

The surname VANFOSSAN has its origins in the Netherlands, specifically in the region of Friesland. It emerged during the late 16th century and is believed to be derived from the Dutch words "van" meaning "from" and "fossa" meaning "ditch" or "moat." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name may have lived near a significant ditch or moat, perhaps in a rural area or fortified town.

Historical records from the 17th century mention a VANFOSSAN family residing in the village of Heerenveen, located in the northern Dutch province of Friesland. An entry in the village's church registry from 1632 lists the birth of a child named Pieter VANFOSSAN, son of Andries VANFOSSAN and his wife, Maria. This is one of the earliest documented instances of the VANFOSSAN name.

In the late 1600s, a branch of the VANFOSSAN family migrated to the neighboring province of Groningen, where they settled in the city of Appingedam. Here, they established themselves as successful merchants and traders, with several family members becoming prominent figures in the local community. One notable individual was Joost VANFOSSAN (1692-1768), who served as the mayor of Appingedam for several terms.

During the 18th century, the VANFOSSAN name began to spread beyond the Netherlands, with some family members relocating to other parts of Europe. In 1745, a man named Hendrik VANFOSSAN (1715-1798) settled in the German city of Hamburg, where he worked as a ship's captain and established his own trading company.

Another notable figure was Willem VANFOSSAN (1779-1856), a Dutch military officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars. He rose through the ranks and eventually became a general in the Dutch army, earning him a place in the annals of Dutch military history.

As the 19th century progressed, the VANFOSSAN name continued to disperse across Europe and even reached other parts of the world through emigration. One such individual was Pieter VANFOSSAN (1825-1902), who left the Netherlands and settled in South Africa, where he became a successful farmer and landowner.

Overall, while the VANFOSSAN surname may not be widely known today, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and multiple countries. From its humble beginnings in the Dutch province of Friesland to its spread across Europe and beyond, the VANFOSSAN name has left an indelible mark on the annals of history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name VanFossan

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

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

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

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