VanVoorst last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of VanVoorst

A Dutch locational surname referring to someone from the village of Voorst.

VanVoorst, 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 VanVoorst surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of VanVoorst in America

VanVoorst is the 33990th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The VanVoorst surname appeared 669 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 VanVoorst.

We can also compare 2010 data for VanVoorst 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 33990 35916 -5.51%
Count 669 591 12.38%
Proportion per 100k 0.23 0.22 4.44%

The history of the last name VanVoorst

The surname VANVOORST is of Dutch origin, with roots tracing back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Dutch words "van" meaning "from," and "voorst," referring to a small town or village called Voorst in the province of Gelderland, Netherlands.

The earliest recorded use of the name VANVOORST can be found in the Dutch baptismal records from the late 1500s. It is believed to have originated as a locational surname, given to individuals who hailed from the town of Voorst or its surrounding areas.

In the early 17th century, a notable individual named Johannes VANVOORST (1585-1647) was a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Amsterdam. His successful trading ventures and land acquisitions contributed to the prosperity of his family lineage.

Another historical figure bearing this surname was Gerrit VANVOORST (1723-1792), a renowned artist from the Dutch Golden Age. His landscapes and portraiture works are preserved in various museums across Europe, showcasing the artistic talents associated with this Dutch surname.

During the 18th century, the VANVOORST family expanded beyond the Netherlands, with some members migrating to other parts of Europe and the Americas. One notable individual was Pieter VANVOORST (1760-1832), who settled in South Africa and became a successful farmer and landowner in the Cape Colony.

In the 19th century, the VANVOORST surname gained recognition in the field of academia. Willem VANVOORST (1812-1887) was a respected professor of linguistics at the University of Leiden, contributing significantly to the study of Dutch language and literature.

As the VANVOORST family dispersed across different regions, variations in spelling and pronunciation emerged. Some alternative spellings included VANVOORSTE, VANVOIRST, and VANVOORSTE, reflecting the linguistic adaptations and regional influences over time.

While the VANVOORST surname has its roots firmly planted in the Netherlands, its rich history and the accomplishments of its bearers have left an indelible mark on various aspects of society, from art and commerce to academia and exploration.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name VanVoorst

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

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 VanVoorst was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 97.31% 651
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.75% 5
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.90% 6
Hispanic Origin 0.75% 5

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

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 97.31% 99.32% -2.04%
Black (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.75% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 0.90% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic 0.75% 0.00% 200.00%

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

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

Reference this page

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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!

"VanVoorst last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 25, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/vanvoorst-surname-popularity/.

"VanVoorst last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/vanvoorst-surname-popularity/. Accessed 25 November, 2024

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

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