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

Voorhees, 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 Voorhees surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Voorhees in America

Voorhees is the 6012th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Voorhees surname appeared 5,720 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 Voorhees.

We can also compare 2010 data for Voorhees 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 Voorhees

The surname Voorhees originated in the Netherlands, likely in the 16th or 17th century. It is derived from the Dutch words "voor" meaning "before" and "hees" meaning "heathland" or "wasteland." The name suggests a connection to a location situated before or in front of a heathland area.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Voorhees can be found in the Dutch Reformed Church records of Midwout (now Flatbush, Brooklyn) in the late 17th century. Steven Coerte Van Voorhees, born around 1660, is believed to be one of the first bearers of the surname in the New World.

The name Voorhees has its roots in the Netherlands, but it gained prominence in the United States, particularly in the state of New Jersey. Lucas Voorhees, born in 1681 in Flatbush, is considered the progenitor of many Voorhees families in New Jersey.

In the 18th century, the Voorhees family played a significant role in the American Revolutionary War. Hendrick Voorhees, born in 1734, served as a colonel in the Somerset County Militia and was instrumental in several battles against British forces.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Voorhees. One such figure is Ralph Voorhees, born in 1838, who served as a Union Army officer during the American Civil War and later became a successful businessman and philanthropist in Ohio.

Another prominent Voorhees was Daniel Wolcott Voorhees, born in 1827, who served as a United States Senator from Indiana and was known for his oratorical skills and contributions to legal education.

The surname Voorhees has also been associated with the arts. Charles Stewart Voorhees, born in 1853, was a renowned American painter known for his landscape and portrait works, many of which are housed in prestigious museums.

In the field of literature, John Voorhees, born in 1914, was an acclaimed American novelist and short story writer, whose works explored themes of family dynamics and the human condition.

While the surname Voorhees has its origins in the Netherlands, it has become well-established in various parts of the world, particularly in the United States, where it has been carried by individuals who have left their mark in various fields, from military service and politics to the arts and literature.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Voorhees

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

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

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

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