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

Vann, 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 Vann surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vann in America

Vann is the 2366th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vann surname appeared 15,416 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Vann.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vann 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 Vann

The surname Vann has its origins in England and Wales, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "fenn," which means "fen" or "marsh." This suggests that the name was likely borne by individuals who lived near or worked in marshy areas.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Vann can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. The book mentions individuals with the surname Vann, or similar spellings such as "de la Vanne" or "atte Vanne," residing in various counties across England.

The name Vann has also been associated with place names, such as Vann in Somerset, which was recorded as "Fenna" in the Domesday Book. This connection to specific locations further reinforces the theory that the name originated from geographical features.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the surname Vann. One example is William Vann (1676-1711), an English clergyman and author who served as a chaplain in the Royal Navy. Another is John Vann (1772-1836), an American pioneer and soldier who played a role in the early settlement of Texas.

In the literary realm, David Vann (born 1966) is a notable American author and professor, known for his critically acclaimed works such as "Legend of a Suicide" and "Caribou Island."

The name Vann has also been prominent in the world of sports. Trevon Vann (born 1998) is an American football defensive back who currently plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the National Football League (NFL). Additionally, William Vann (born 1957) is a former American football linebacker who played for the Baltimore Colts in the NFL during the 1980s.

Another historical figure of note is John Vann (1924-1972), a highly decorated United States Army officer who served in the Vietnam War and was known for his criticism of the military strategy employed by the American forces.

While the surname Vann has its roots in England and Wales, it has spread to various parts of the world through migration and diaspora. The name has maintained its presence across generations, carrying with it a rich history and connections to geographical locations and notable individuals.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vann

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

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

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

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