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

Vanik, 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 Vanik surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vanik in America

Vanik is the 107669th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vanik surname appeared 165 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 Vanik.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vanik 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 Vanik

The surname VANIK is of Armenian origin, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Armenian word "van," which means "monastery" or "convent." The name likely originated in the historical Armenian regions around Lake Van in present-day eastern Turkey.

The earliest known records of the VANIK surname can be traced back to the 13th century, where it appeared in various Armenian manuscripts and chronicles. One notable historical figure bearing this name was Grigor Vanik, a prominent Armenian scholar and theologian who lived in the late 12th and early 13th centuries.

During the Middle Ages, the VANIK surname was closely associated with Armenian monastic communities and religious institutions. Some historians suggest that the name may have been adopted by families who had close ties to monasteries or were involved in their administration or support.

In the 16th century, a renowned Armenian merchant and traveler named Hovhannes Vanik documented his travels through Europe and Asia. His accounts provide valuable insights into the trade routes and cultural exchanges of that era.

Another notable individual with the VANIK surname was Stepan Vanik, an Armenian writer and poet who lived in the 18th century. His works contributed significantly to the preservation and promotion of Armenian literature and cultural heritage.

As the Armenian diaspora spread across various regions, the VANIK surname also found its way into different parts of the world. In the 19th century, a prominent Armenian-American figure named Nerses Vanik played a crucial role in establishing Armenian communities and churches in the United States.

Over the centuries, the VANIK surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Vanikian, Vanigian, and Vanigyan, reflecting the diverse regions where Armenian communities settled. Despite these variations, the core meaning and historical significance of the name have remained intact.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vanik

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

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

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

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