Surname Vandiver - Meaning and Origin
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read moreVandiver: What does the surname Vandiver mean?
The surname Vandiver is of Dutch origin, derived from the Dutch surname Van Diver, which translates into “from Theiver.” In Amsterdam's city archive, there are multiple references to the name Van Diver or Vandiver dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries. The exact meaning of the surname is not entirely clear, given the various changes and spelling variations that it has gone through over the centuries (like many other surnames). It is widely agreed, however, that as a locational surname, Vandiver originally signified a person who was from a particular place, area, or town called Diver or similar. Therefore, the meaning of Vandiver could largely be interpreted as "from Diver." It's also likely that the original holders of this surname could have migrated to other European countries or to North America, where the surname remains prevalent. It should be noted that the meaning and origins of surnames can be incredibly complex and nuanced, often varying by region and over time.
Order DNA origin analysisVandiver: Where does the name Vandiver come from?
The surname Vandiver is of English origin, and is found today primarily in the United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in recent years it has been among the most common surnames in states such as Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama. Within the past twelve years, it has also been the 52nd most common surname in Oklahoma, the 63rd most common surname in Virginia, and the 77th most common surname throughout the entire United States.
The surname is thought to be derived from the Old English phrase ‘at sæ little vande’, which literally translates to ‘at the wash-ford’. It is also thought that the name may have originally been a topographic name for someone who lived by the ford where the water was deep enough to require it to be waded—with ‘vande’ having once been a common English word to describe this act.
It is likely that some of the most common instances of the surname Vandiver are seen today as descendants of a single ‘Robert Van de Veer’, who emigrated from England to North America sometime around the early 1600s. This is believed to be the earliest of the known documented examples of the Vandiver surname in the New World. During the Revolutionary War, General George Washington appointed the high-ranking official Peter Vandiver, whose descendants are thought to have grown to become the biggest family to carry on the name.
Since the 1800s, the surname Vandiver has been strongly associated with the Southern United States, particularly in states such as Virginia and Missouri. Today, it is also becoming increasingly common throughout other parts of the country, including states such as Rhode Island and California.
Variations of the surname Vandiver
The surname Vandiver is thought to have originated in France and dates back centuries. Although it has since spread around the world, the most common variants of the name are believed to be Van Dijk and Van Dyke, and Van Dijke, although there are other less common variations.
Van Dyke, sometimes spelled Van Dyk, is the most common variant of Vandiver. It is derived from the Middle Dutch masculine given name Dicke, which in Old Dutch translates to 'dike' or 'embankment,” thus making Van Dyke literally mean 'from the dike'. Van Dijk is derived from the same root and is a less common variant, though both spellings are interchangeable.
Van Dijke is another commonly used spelling of Vandiver, and was found most predominantly in Flanders (Belgium) and Holland. Similarly to Van Dyke, Van Dijek translates to 'from the dike', however, the 'j' that separates the 'D' from the 'k' suggests the name may refer to a landowner near a dyke.
Other spelling variants of Vandiver include Van Dyck, Van Dyke, Vandicker, Van Dijcke, Van Dycke, Van Dycken, Vandiecker and Van Dijcker. These variants are seen in different countries around the world and are most likely related to the Vandiver surname.
Surnames that are of similar origin to Vandiver are Vande-Kerchoven, Vandenhoute, Van Den Bergh, and Vandenhaute. These surnames are thought to be related to Vandiver through dialect, as some of these surnames are found in Flemish-speaking regions and Vandiver has its roots in the same language. Additionally, the ending of these surnames – haut, bergh and hoven – suggest they may have a similar origin to Vandiver.
Famous people with the name Vandiver
- Zachary “Zach” Vandiver: Olympic Gold medalist and American Modern Pentathlete.
- Thomas Vandiver: Senior Vice President for Projects at Turner Construction.
- Stephen Harvey Vandiver: Former Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives.
- John Vandiver: Director, Technical Services at Xerox Corporation.
- Lori Vandiver: Professional fashion photographer and former swimsuit model.
- Rob Vandiver: Professional baseball coach and former Major League Baseball pitcher.
- Evan Gill Vandiver: Major General in the United States Army.
- Dale Vandiver: Retired professional baseball player.
- Steve Downey Vandiver: American attorney and politician, former member of the Georgia Senate.
- Michael Vandiver: American actor, appearing in various films and TV series over the years.