Surname Vanderveer - Meaning and Origin

Vanderveer: What does the surname Vanderveer mean?

Vanderveer is a Dutch surname that translates to "from the ferry" in English. The origin of this surname can be traced back to the Netherlands. It likely refers to someone living near a ferry or working on a ferry. Such geographical surnames were often used to identify people by their place of residence or occupation, providing hints about their ancestors' lifestyle or location. However, while the meaning of this surname paints a general picture, specific genealogical information would require personal family history research. As populations migrated, the surname would have spread and may have developed different branches with independent histories. Therefore, while the name Vanderveer carries a general meaning, its specific significance can differ from family to family.

Vanderveer: Where does the name Vanderveer come from?

The last name Vanderveer is most commonly seen in the United States and Canada today. In the United States, the highest concentrations are in the Midwest and New England regions, with Michigan and Ohio having the highest concentrations overall.

According to census records, only small numbers of people have the Vanderveer last name in other countries. Records show that it does exist, however, in Europe, Mexico, and South America.

The Vanderveer family can be traced back to early 1700s Pennsylvania. Once mainly of Dutch descent, the Vanderveer family had spread to Ontario, Canada by the mid-1800s. Other pockets of Vanderveers continue to exist in points throughout the United States and Canada, with names varying slightly in spelling, like Vandevoord, Vanderveen, and Vandervoort.

Research shows that this last name is not overly common these days, but it continues to be passed on to new generations within the Vanderveer family. As a political and military family, the Vanderveers have left an indelible influence on the United States and Canada, and the generations that have followed and inherited the Vanderveer last name today are proud to carry on the legacy.

Variations of the surname Vanderveer

The surname Vanderveer can have various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. It can be spelled Vonderveer, Vandervoor, Vandervoer, Vandervoren, Vanderver, Vandervoort,and Van Der Veere. Vanderveer is derived from the Dutch personal names Fander Verdere, meaning ‘clothier’. The name is popularly found in the Netherland’s provinces of North and South Holland. It is derived from the place names Vredervere, Vanderveen and Vandervoorst. In the Netherlands some of the surnames which have the same origin are Van Der Laan, Van Der Leur and Van Der Voort.

In the United States some of the other spellings of Vanderveer are Van Devere, VANDERVERE, Vandiver, Vandover, Vondiveer, VanDever, Van Der Veere, Vandervoort, and Van Deventer. Vandevoort is another alternative spelling of the name found in US census records in 1980 and 2000. Van Deventer and Vandiver are also quite popular as Dutch surnames in the US, and are found in the records of the 1950 and 1960 census.

In Pennsylvania Dutch language, the name is best known as Vonderveer or Vandervoer. It is also found in the Maryland region of the US as Vandervoort and Vandervoorst.

In Canada, the name is found as Vander Veer, Vandervoort, Vandervoren, Vanderver, Van Der Veer, Vandervoer and Vanderveen. The English version of the name is also found in England, Scotland, and Wales as Vangrave, Vandervore, and Van Der Veere.

It is a versatile surname with various spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin. The geographical location and the language spoken determine the choice of spelling and the surnames of the same origin derived from it.

Famous people with the name Vanderveer

• Charles Vanderveer Snyder: American lawyer, public official, and judge. He served four terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1915 to 1923 and was a judge of the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit from 1924 to 1946.
• Jim Vanderveer: American football coach and former player. He served as the head football coach at Oregon State University from 1910 to 1911.
• Pete Vanderveer: American tennis player who was active in tournaments from 1933 to 1949. He was ranked a career-high seventh in the United States in 1936 and competed at the U.S. Championships on 13 occasions.
• William Vanderveer: American Baptist missionary who served in Ethiopia from 1862 to 1915. He established the first Baptist mission in Ethiopia, and he was involved in linguistic and educational initiatives in the country.
• Frank Vanderveer: American track and field athlete who competed in the 1904 Summer Olympics. He reached the final of the all-around event, where he finished fourth.
• Reuben Vanderveer: American horse-breeder and former Mayor of Racine, Wisconsin. He was also a member of the Wisconsin State Senate.
• Jeanette Vanderveer: American heiress and organizer of philanthropic undertakings. She was the heiress to the Vanderveer Iron Works fortune and donated to multiple charitable organizations in New York City.
• John Vanderveer: Dutch quadruple Olympic fencing champion. He won gold medals at the 1920 and 1924 Summer Games.
• Leonardus Vanderveer: Dutch civil servant and politician. He was a member of the House of Representatives from 1898 to 1901 and of the Senate from 1906 to 1909.
• Steven Vanderveer: American filmmaker and producer. He has directed, shot and produced documentary films and television series.

Other surnames

Vandervoort