Vansant last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Vansant

Derived from the Dutch surname "Van Zandt," indicating someone from the town of Zandt or a sandy place.

Vansant, 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 Vansant surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vansant in America

Vansant is the 13101st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vansant surname appeared 2,340 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Vansant.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vansant 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 13101 12197 7.15%
Count 2,340 2,342 -0.09%
Proportion per 100k 0.79 0.87 -9.64%

The history of the last name Vansant

The surname VANSANT originated in the Low Countries, which today comprise the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. The name is believed to have emerged during the Middle Ages, sometime between the 11th and 15th centuries. It is derived from the Dutch words "van" and "sant," meaning "from" and "sand," respectively. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a sandy area or came from a place with a sandy terrain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the VANSANT surname can be found in the "Gouden Leeuw" (Golden Lion) manuscript, a Dutch heraldic document from the 15th century. This manuscript contains records of noble families and their coats of arms, including several entries for individuals with the VANSANT name.

In the 16th century, the VANSANT surname appeared in various historical records across the Low Countries. For instance, Jan VANSANT, a merchant from Antwerp, is mentioned in trade documents from the year 1562. Another notable figure was Pieter VANSANT, a skilled artisan who crafted intricate stained-glass windows for churches in Bruges and Ghent in the late 1500s.

During the 17th century, several members of the VANSANT family emigrated from the Netherlands to the New World, seeking economic opportunities and religious freedom. One of the earliest known settlers was Hendrick VANSANT, who arrived in New Amsterdam (present-day New York City) in 1638. He became a successful farmer and landowner in the Dutch colony.

In the 18th century, the VANSANT surname was well-established in various parts of the United States, particularly in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. One prominent figure was Johannes VANSANT (1727-1804), a Quaker preacher and abolitionist who actively campaigned against slavery.

Another notable individual was John VANSANT (1764-1839), a military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War. He rose to the rank of Captain and played a crucial role in several battles against the British forces.

Throughout the 19th century, several VANSANT families settled in the Midwestern states, contributing to the westward expansion of the United States. One such individual was William VANSANT (1811-1892), a pioneer farmer who established a homestead in Iowa and became a respected community leader.

While the VANSANT surname is not among the most common in the world, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and can be traced back to its origins in the Low Countries. The name has been carried by merchants, artisans, religious leaders, military officers, and pioneers, reflecting the diverse experiences and contributions of those who bear this surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vansant

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

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 Vansant was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 92.35% 2,161
Non-Hispanic Black Only 1.03% 24
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 1.24% 29
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.98% 23
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 1.54% 36
Hispanic Origin 2.86% 67

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 Vansant has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 92.35% 94.36% -2.15%
Black 1.03% 0.64% 46.71%
Asian and Pacific Islander 1.24% 0.85% 37.32%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.98% 0.34% 96.97%
Two or More Races 1.54% 1.71% -10.46%
Hispanic 2.86% 2.09% 31.11%

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

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

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Vansant last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 26, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/vansant-surname-popularity/.

"Vansant last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/vansant-surname-popularity/. Accessed 26 December, 2024

Vansant last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/vansant-surname-popularity/.

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