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

VanHandel, 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 VanHandel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of VanHandel in America

VanHandel is the 31068th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The VanHandel surname appeared 747 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 VanHandel.

We can also compare 2010 data for VanHandel 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 VanHandel

The surname VANHANDEL originated in the Low Countries, which today includes the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Dutch phrase "van handel," which translates to "of trade" or "of commerce." This suggests that the name was likely given to individuals or families involved in mercantile activities or trading professions.

The earliest recorded instances of the VANHANDEL surname can be traced back to the 14th century in various Dutch and Flemish records. One notable example is Jan VANHANDEL, a merchant from Antwerp, who is mentioned in a trade document dated 1386. Another early reference is found in the Guelders Land Registry of 1402, where a Hendrick VANHANDEL is listed as a landowner in the town of Arnhem.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the VANHANDEL name became more widespread as the Low Countries experienced a golden age of trade and economic prosperity. This period saw the rise of influential families bearing the VANHANDEL surname, such as the VANHANDEL family of Leiden, who were prominent textile merchants in the early 1600s.

One of the most significant figures associated with the VANHANDEL name was Willem VANHANDEL (1580-1644), a Dutch East India Company merchant and navigator. He is credited with establishing trading posts in present-day Indonesia and is considered a pioneering figure in the Dutch colonial expansion in the East Indies.

Another notable individual was Johanna VANHANDEL (1712-1778), a renowned philosopher and writer from Amsterdam. Her works on ethics and morality were widely read and discussed throughout Europe during the Age of Enlightenment.

In the 19th century, the VANHANDEL surname gained further recognition with the birth of Pieter VANHANDEL (1843-1912), a Dutch artist known for his landscapes and portraits. His paintings are held in several prestigious collections, including the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

As the Low Countries experienced periods of migration and emigration, the VANHANDEL name spread to other parts of Europe and eventually to the Americas. One such example is Christiaan VANHANDEL (1879-1957), a Dutch-American entrepreneur who founded a successful import-export business in New York City in the early 20th century.

While the VANHANDEL surname has its roots in the mercantile and trading activities of the Low Countries, it has evolved over time and can now be found among individuals from various backgrounds and professions worldwide.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name VanHandel

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

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

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

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