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

Vanover, 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 Vanover surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vanover in America

Vanover is the 5219th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vanover surname appeared 6,689 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Vanover.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vanover 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 Vanover

The surname Vanover has its origins in the Netherlands, emerging during the late 16th century. It is believed to derive from the Dutch word "van" meaning "from" and "over" meaning "across," suggesting the name may have referred to someone who lived across a specific geographical feature or region.

Early records indicate the surname Vanover first appeared in the province of Gelderland, located in the eastern Netherlands. It is possible the name originated as a toponymic, referring to a specific place or settlement in this area. Similar spellings found in historical documents include Vanoven, Van Oover, and Van Overen.

One of the earliest known references to the Vanover surname can be found in the baptismal records of the Dutch Reformed Church in Arnhem, Gelderland, dating back to 1597. This entry records the baptism of a child named Hendrick Vanover, son of Pieter Vanover and his wife, Maria.

In the 17th century, the name Vanover began to spread beyond the Netherlands as Dutch settlers migrated to other parts of Europe and the New World. Notable individuals bearing this surname during this time period include Jan Vanover (1625-1687), a merchant and alderman in the city of Amsterdam.

As the Vanover name continued to disperse, it found its way to England, where it was sometimes anglicized to variations such as Vanover or Vanovers. One prominent figure was Sir William Vanover (1740-1815), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.

In the 19th century, the Vanover surname gained a foothold in North America, particularly in the United States and Canada. Among the noteworthy individuals with this name was Samuel Vanover (1812-1892), a pioneer and farmer who settled in Indiana after migrating from Pennsylvania.

Other notable Vanovers throughout history include Dutch painter Johannes Vanover (1856-1932), known for his landscapes and genre scenes, and American author and journalist Alice Vanover (1878-1958), who wrote extensively about the American West and Native American culture.

While the Vanover surname may not be as common as some others, its rich history spans multiple countries and centuries, reflecting the diverse journeys and experiences of those who have borne this name over the years.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vanover

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

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

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

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