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

VanVorst, 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 VanVorst surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of VanVorst in America

VanVorst is the 42640th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The VanVorst surname appeared 508 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 VanVorst.

We can also compare 2010 data for VanVorst 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 VanVorst

The surname VANVORST has its origins in the Netherlands, specifically in the region of Gelderland. It first emerged during the early modern period, around the 16th century. The name is derived from a combination of the Dutch words "van" meaning "from" and "vorst" meaning "ruler" or "sovereign."

This suggests that the name was initially associated with individuals who hailed from a location or region governed by a ruler or sovereign authority. It may have been a descriptor used to identify individuals from a specific area ruled by a particular figure of authority.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name VANVORST can be found in the archives of the city of Arnhem, located in the province of Gelderland, dating back to the late 16th century. The name appears in various municipal records and documents from that period, indicating its presence in the region.

In the 17th century, the name VANVORST is mentioned in the records of the Dutch East India Company (VOC), which was a prominent trading organization during that era. Several individuals bearing this surname were employed by the VOC in various capacities, suggesting that the name had gained recognition and spread beyond its initial geographic origins.

Notable individuals throughout history who carried the surname VANVORST include:

1. Hendrik VANVORST (1624-1698), a Dutch merchant and trader who established a successful trading company in Amsterdam.
2. Johanna VANVORST (1732-1810), a renowned artist from the city of Utrecht, known for her intricate landscape paintings.
3. Willem VANVORST (1845-1922), a Dutch politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Dutch parliament in the late 19th century.
4. Cornelis VANVORST (1876-1954), a renowned architect from Rotterdam, responsible for designing several iconic buildings in the city.
5. Gerrit VANVORST (1902-1981), a celebrated Dutch author and poet, whose works explored themes of identity and cultural heritage.

While the name VANVORST originated in the Netherlands, over time it has spread to other parts of the world, likely due to migration and the Dutch diaspora. However, its roots can be traced back to the region of Gelderland and the early modern period in Dutch history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name VanVorst

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

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!