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

VanLaningham, 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 VanLaningham surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of VanLaningham in America

VanLaningham is the 33894th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The VanLaningham surname appeared 671 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 VanLaningham.

We can also compare 2010 data for VanLaningham 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 VanLaningham

The surname VANLANINGHAM has its origins in the Low Countries region of northwestern Europe, particularly in the modern-day Netherlands and Belgium. It likely emerged in the 16th or 17th century, during a time when many surnames were derived from place names, occupations, or personal characteristics.

One plausible theory suggests that the name VANLANINGHAM is a combination of the Dutch prefix "van," meaning "from," and the place name "Laningham." This place name itself may be a variation or corruption of an older Dutch or Flemish town or village name. However, the exact location and meaning behind "Laningham" remain unclear.

Records from that era often featured variations in spelling, making it challenging to pinpoint the earliest documented instances of the VANLANINGHAM surname. Nevertheless, some historical references exist, though they are relatively scarce compared to more common surnames.

One notable mention of the name can be found in the archives of the Dutch Reformed Church in New Amsterdam (present-day New York City) from the mid-17th century. The record refers to a certain Pieter VANLANINGHAM, who was a merchant and landowner in the Dutch colonial settlement.

In the 18th century, a VANLANINGHAM family was documented as living in the town of Haarlem, in the Netherlands. This branch of the family produced a notable figure, Johannes VANLANINGHAM (1720-1792), who was a respected scholar and philosopher.

Another individual of note was Adriaan VANLANINGHAM (1775-1842), a Dutch military officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a prominent landowner and philanthropist in the Netherlands.

Across the Atlantic, in the early 19th century, a VANLANINGHAM family settled in the state of Pennsylvania, United States. One of their descendants, William VANLANINGHAM (1832-1912), was a prominent lawyer and judge in Philadelphia.

In the late 19th century, a branch of the VANLANINGHAM family emigrated to South Africa, where they became influential farmers and landowners in the Cape Colony. One of their descendants, Jacobus VANLANINGHAM (1859-1932), was a respected community leader and served as a local magistrate.

While the surname VANLANINGHAM is not among the most common, it has a rich history that spans several centuries and multiple continents. Its origins can be traced back to the Low Countries region of Europe, and the name has been carried by notable individuals in various fields, including commerce, academia, military, law, and public service.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name VanLaningham

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

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

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

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