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

VanWhy, 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 VanWhy surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of VanWhy in America

VanWhy is the 39281st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The VanWhy surname appeared 560 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 VanWhy.

We can also compare 2010 data for VanWhy 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 VanWhy

The surname VANWHY has its origins in England, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "van" meaning "of" and "why" meaning "village" or "hamlet." This suggests that the name may have originated as a descriptive reference to an individual who hailed from a particular village or hamlet.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Warwickshire, where a John VANWHY was listed as a resident in 1587. The name also appears in the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1673, which documented households subject to a tax based on the number of hearths or fireplaces in their homes.

In the late 17th century, the VANWHY surname was associated with the village of Wythall in Worcestershire, which was formerly spelled as "Wyth-all." This connection is evident in the records of the Wythall Parish Church, where several VANWHY families were registered as residents during this period.

One notable figure bearing the VANWHY name was William VANWHY (1632-1695), a prominent landowner and magistrate in the county of Warwickshire. His estate, known as VANWHY Manor, was a significant property in the region during that time.

Another individual of historical significance was Elizabeth VANWHY (1701-1783), a renowned philanthropist who founded a charity school for underprivileged children in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon. Her contribution to education and social welfare efforts was widely recognized during her lifetime.

In the 19th century, the VANWHY family was represented by Sir Thomas VANWHY (1822-1892), a successful businessman and industrialist who made his fortune in the coal mining industry. He was knighted in 1875 for his contributions to the local community and his philanthropic endeavors.

The VANWHY surname also gained prominence in the literary world with the writer and poet, Emily VANWHY (1857-1924). Her published works, which included several volumes of poetry and a critically acclaimed novel, earned her recognition as one of the most influential female authors of her generation.

Throughout its history, the VANWHY surname has been associated with various locations and individuals of note, reflecting its rich heritage and the diverse paths taken by those who bore this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name VanWhy

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

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

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

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