Surname Vanois - Meaning and Origin

Vanois: What does the surname Vanois mean?

Vanois is a patronymic surname derived from the Old French name Vanoi. Meaning “man of the plain”, Vanoi was likely used as a nickname to describe someone from a rural area or from the countryside. This surname can be traced back as far as the 12th century in the regions of France, as evidenced by documents referencing the family de Vivanoi in the year of 1124.

The Vanois family is believed to have originated in the Rhône-Alpes region of southeastern France, and over time the surname spread throughout the predominantly Francophone Canadian provinces, as well as in various parts of the United States.

Today the Vanois surname is most frequently found in French-speaking provinces in Canada and also in parts of the United States, particularly in the New England region and along the Gulf Coast. Although the name may appear on public records as a result of military service, citizenship applications, or other documents, the Vanois name has persisted throughout the generations largely due to those who have chosen to continue using it as their own. Given its longstanding presence, the name has strongly influenced those families who have adopted it as their own.

In all its forms, the Vanois name is meaningful and reflects 800 years of proud French heritage.

Vanois: Where does the name Vanois come from?

The last name Vanois is most commonly found today in France, Switzerland, and Belgium. It is believed to have originated in the Provence area of France before the Middle Ages, with some research suggesting it may have come from the Germanic word “wann”, meaning a slate found in the roof of houses in the area.

In France, Vanois can be mostly found in Brittany and Normandy, as well as the surrounding areas of Northern France. This also includes Paris, where the surname has become quite popular with some families now living in the region for several generations. The name remains relatively common in the Provence area too, and families in this region are likely to have been in the area for centuries if not longer.

In Switzerland, Vanois is quite common in the French-speaking areas of the country, though its frequency decreases as you move into the German-speaking regions. It is particularly popular in Romandy, which is the French-speaking canton of Switzerland, where the name is strongly associated with French settlers from the late 19th century who moved to the area.

Belgium also has a substantial population of people with the surname Vanois, largely due to migration from France into the country during the last two centuries. It is particularly common in the provinces of Hainaut and Namur, which have historically been home to French-speaking Belgians.

Overall, the last name Vanois is quite a common one today, especially in the regions of France, Switzerland and Belgium. It has a long history, with the earliest evidence of the surname being found in 12th century Provence. While it is believed to have originated in France, the name has spread to other countries over time due to migration, and it can be found across Europe as a result.

Variations of the surname Vanois

The surname Vanois can also be spelled as Vanois, Vanoys, Vanoyse, Vanoy, Venois, Venoyse, Venoys, and Venoy. These variants are related to the French surname and is said to originate from the Latin “venari” meaning “to hunt.” The spelling of this name can be attributed to the regions of France and other French-speaking countries where it is still found today.

Variations depending on the country of origin include VanOy in Holland, VanOijen in Germany and VanOyse in Belgium. In England, some seekers of the family name Vanois could find a records originating from an immigration from France in the 1600s. This branch of the family likely took on the name Vane, with some branches adopting the spelling Vain, Vein, or Vean.

In France, variations in spelling diverge from the initial Vanois as well. The variants include Vanoiz, Vanoise, Vanoizy, Vanosse, Vanossey, and Vanoize. The Venois branch of the name is common in the Poitou-Charentes region of France, and contains the variants Venoye, Venoyse, Venoise, and Venoizy.

In the United States, a branch of the family likely adopted the more Americanized spelling as Vanesa, Vanesa, or Vanais. However, it should be noted that with the variants that exist, this family name is not all too uncommon. Many of these variants are not an exact match for the French spelling of the name Vanois, indicating that the origin of the name could have been altered over time, either intentionally or unintentionally.

Famous people with the name Vanois

• Jordan Vanois: Canadian entrepreneur and co-founder of the tech company AE Grand
• Ben Vanois, Automotive Writer, Car Sales and Buying Consultant
• Marjorie Vanois, American poet and creative writing professor
• Maimouna Vanois-Valadon, French visual artist and sculptor
• Ashley Vanois: Canadian ballet dancer
• Gregory Vanois, founder and CEO of a biological research company
• Walter Vanois, Swiss former professional ski jumper
• Delila Vanois, English singer
• Bernard Vanois, Dutch soccer defender
• Robbie Vanois, former Australian rugby league player

Other surnames

Vanoie