Surname Vandermolen - Meaning and Origin

Vandermolen: What does the surname Vandermolen mean?

The last name Vandermolen is believed to be Dutch in origin. Its translation in English is “from the mill”. The literal meaning is that the family was thought to have once lived next to or worked at a mill. The use of this surname can be found in Dutch and Flemish records as early as the 1500s.

The Dutch surname has multiple spelling variations and can be spelled as: Vandamme, Vandam, Vandammele, Vandammele, Vandammeel, Vandammeele, Vandermolen, Vandermule, and Vandermoolen.

Originally Vandermolen was an occupational surname used for those who owned and worked in mills. They were likely important people in their village as their mill could have benefited the whole community. Early records in Holland and Flanders of the 1500s show Vandermolens carrying out various roles, from grain and flour millers to millwrights and milliners.

Historically, the Dutch nobility and upper class historically embraced surnames using the prefix van, and Vandermolen is considered one of those prefixes. This prefix was initially used to appeal to a sense of community and to rouse feelings of friendship and national pride.

Today, people with the Vandermolen surname are scattered across the world. They come from all walks of life and span a wide variety of professions, including business, healthcare, and academia. Yet, no matter how far from home, they all share the storied history of their surname and its place in Dutch culture.

Vandermolen: Where does the name Vandermolen come from?

The last name Vandermolen is most common in the Netherlands and Belgium today. It is believed to be of Dutch-Flemish origin, as the prefix ‘Vander’ or ‘Van der’ is a Dutch derivation, meaning ‘from the’. ‘Molen’ is the Dutch word for ‘mill’ and suggests that the name may have evolved as a toponymic one for someone living near or owning a mill.

In the Netherlands, Vandermolen is most commonly found in the central and eastern parts of the country, particularly in the Berg van Limburg (Limburg Hill) and in the region of Schouwen. It is among the top 100 most common surnames in the Netherlands. In Belgium, the surname is quite rare in the northern part of the country, but more frequent in the southern part, in particular in the former province of Limburg.

Tracing Vandermolen ancestors can be complicated due to the similarity in spelling with other common Dutch surnames such as Vandemoortele, Vermulen or Vandenbrouck. More research is needed to really be certain of the exact origin of the name.

Today, descendants of the Vandermolen surname can be found in the Netherlands, Belgium, South Africa, Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand.

Variations of the surname Vandermolen

The surname Vandermolen has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.

The main name is Vandermolen, which is an Dutch name derived from Van der Molen and Van de Molen. This name means “from the mill” and it usually suggests the originator of the surname was a miller or worked in a mill.

Vandermolen is also spelt as Van Der Molen, Vande Molen, Vanderemolen, Vandermolen, Vandemolen, Van Dermolene, Van Der Molene, Vande Molene, Van De Molen and Vander Molen.

Surnames related to Vandermolen include Van Der Mol, Vande Mol, Van De Mole, Vandemol, Vande Molle, Vande Molle, Vandamolen, Vanderemolle, Van Dermol, Van De Mol and Vandenmol.

Other variations of the Vandermolen surname include Vanderemoll, Vandemoll, Vandermoll, Vandamolle, Van Dermeulen, Vandemele, Vandemaal, Vandemaale, Vandenmeulen, Van der Meulen, and Vandenmeule.

The Vandermolen surname can also be found in other countries such as Germany, where it is spelled as Van der Möhlen, and in the US it is written as Vandermolen, Van der Mol and Vandamolen.

In Scotland, the surname is sometimes written as Vandermoilen or even Vandemoile.

Overall, the Vandermolen surname has many variations in spelling, with the United States having the most diverse selection. All variations typically refer to the same origin of the miller profession. These different spellings, surnames, and variations are all associated with the Vandermolen surname.

Famous people with the name Vandermolen

• Carla Vandermolen: former Canadian pair skater
• Mark Vandermolen: game coordinator from Newcastle, Australia
• Paul Vandermolen: American actor and producer
• Richard Vandermolen: American author and motivational speaker
• Rodney Vandermolen: American photographer
• David Vandermolen: American engineer and technology executive
• Deborah Vandermolen: Executive Vice President at Mortgage Bankers Association
• Janet Vandermolen: former Michigan state representative
• Michael Vandermolen: Executive Vice President at Unisys
• Marc Vandermolen: audio engineer in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Other surnames

Vandermote