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

Vos, 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 Vos surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vos in America

Vos is the 9810th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vos surname appeared 3,300 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 Vos.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vos 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 Vos

The surname Vos has its origins in the Netherlands, tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Dutch word "vos," which means "fox." This surname likely originated as a nickname for someone perceived as cunning or sly, like the animal.

In the early 13th century, records show individuals with the surname Vos residing in various parts of the Netherlands, particularly in the provinces of North Holland and South Holland. The name appeared in documents such as tax rolls, land registries, and local parish records.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Vos can be found in a manuscript dating back to 1272, which mentions a person named Willebord Vos from the town of Delft. This document is preserved in the Delft City Archives.

Another notable early example is Jan Vos, a prominent merchant and alderman in Amsterdam, who lived between 1485 and 1553. He was involved in the city's governance and played a role in the city's economic growth during the 16th century.

During the 17th century, the surname Vos gained further prominence in the Netherlands. Joost van den Vondel (1587-1679), one of the most celebrated Dutch poets and playwrights of the Dutch Golden Age, was born with the surname Vos but later changed it to Vondel.

In the field of art, Jan Vos (1620-1667) was a renowned Dutch poet and playwright. He was a prominent figure in the literary circles of Amsterdam and is best known for his tragedies and comedies.

The surname Vos also has a historical connection to the town of Vos, located in the municipality of Zederik in the province of South Holland. This place name likely influenced the surname's development in the region.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Gerard Vos (1876-1935), a Dutch architect and urban planner. He was instrumental in the design and development of several residential neighborhoods in Rotterdam in the early 20th century.

Throughout history, the surname Vos has been associated with various professions, including merchants, artists, writers, and architects, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of those who carried this name in the Netherlands.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vos

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

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

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

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