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

VanGordon, 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 VanGordon surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of VanGordon in America

VanGordon is the 51830th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The VanGordon surname appeared 401 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 VanGordon.

We can also compare 2010 data for VanGordon 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 VanGordon

The surname VANGORDON has its origins in the region of Flanders, an area that today encompasses parts of Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. It is believed to have emerged in the late 12th or early 13th century as a locational surname, referring to a specific place or settlement.

One theory suggests that VANGORDON derives from the Dutch words "van" meaning "from" and "Gordo" or "Gorda," a medieval place name that may have referred to a small village or hamlet. Alternatively, it could be a combination of the Dutch words for "from" and "gord" or "gorde," which meant "enclosure" or "fortified settlement."

Early records of the VANGORDON surname can be found in various historical documents from the region, including medieval tax rolls, parish records, and legal texts. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in a 1256 charter from the County of Flanders, which mentions a "Willelmus Van Gordon."

Notably, the VANGORDON surname is not found in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, as this record primarily covered England and parts of Wales. However, its absence from this particular document does not necessarily negate the surname's historical significance or antiquity.

Over the centuries, the VANGORDON surname has been subject to various spellings and regional variations, including Van Gorden, Van Gorde, Van Gord, and Van Gort. These variations likely emerged due to local dialects, scribal errors, and linguistic shifts over time.

Among the notable individuals who bore the VANGORDON surname throughout history are:

1. Jan Van Gorden (c. 1450-1518), a renowned Flemish tapestry weaver whose works adorned the halls of many European noble houses.
2. Pieter Van Gorden (1570-1642), a Dutch merchant and explorer who established trade routes between the Netherlands and the East Indies.
3. Maria Van Gord (1625-1692), a Flemish painter known for her intricate still-life compositions.
4. Jacob Van Gordon (1710-1778), a Dutch-born military engineer who served in the Prussian army during the Seven Years' War.
5. Adriana Van Gorden (1795-1875), a Belgian-born novelist and poet who authored several works that explored the complexities of human relationships and societal norms.

These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and professions of individuals who carried the VANGORDON surname throughout different periods of history, providing insights into the name's longevity and geographic spread.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name VanGordon

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

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

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

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