Surname Vanpelt - Meaning and Origin
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Vanpelt: What does the surname Vanpelt mean?
The last name Vanpelt is derived from the Dutch language and is believed to be of occupational origin. It is believed that it was originally used to refer to a person who was a cloth merchant or cloth maker. The name is composed of two elements: “van” and “pelt”. The element “van” means “from” and is a common prefix in Dutch surnames, while “pelt” is an old form of “peltro,” which was the Dutch word for cloth or material.
The earliest recorded occurrences of the name Vanpelt date back to the 16th century in the Netherlands, when it was used to refer to cloth merchants who supplied materials and fabrics to merchants throughout Europe. The Vanpelt family was prominent throughout Dutch history, especially in the areas of business and trade. The name was popular amongst merchants in major Dutch cities, including Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Haarlem, and Leiden.
Today, the name Vanpelt is found scattered across Europe, with a high concentration of bearers in the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United States. It continues to be used as an occupational surname indicating the trade in fabrics or cloths and there are still many bearers of the name who work in the fabric industry.
Order DNA origin analysisVanpelt: Where does the name Vanpelt come from?
The last name Vanpelt is most commonly seen in the Benelux region of Europe, particularly in the Netherlands and Belgium where it has been present since at least the early 1800s. The name is believed to have been Dutch in origin and descended from the Van Pelt family, who were originally from the Rhineland-Palatinate area of Germany. Vanpelt is also common among families in South Africa, especially among the Afrikaner population.
This family name is also found in North America, where it was brought by Dutch settlers who arrived in New Netherland (present-day New York) in the 17th century. Vanpelts were among the early American Dutch immigrants who played a significant role in the development of the new world.
In the United States, the name is concentrated in the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, where members of the Vanpelt family established several small towns, such as Newtown and VanPelt Township. It is also found in Florida, Ohio, and a few other states, though typically on a lesser scale.
After centuries in North America, the Vanpelt family has embedded itself into the culture and history of the United States and continues to make its mark in the 21st century.
Variations of the surname Vanpelt
The surname Vanpelt is an anglicized version of the Dutch surnames Van Pelt, Van Peltz, Van Pelz, Van Pell, Vanpell, Van Peld, Van Peel, Vanpelle, Van Pel or Vand Pepel. It is derived from the Dutch word “pelt” meaning “skin” or “fur” and likely refers to some ancestor of the surname holder who worked as a furrier or tanner. The Portuguese and Spanish version of the surname is Van Pelo and in German it’s Van Pel.
In the United States, Vanpelt was often spelled as Van Pelt, Vanppelt, or VanPelt. Vanpelt and Van Pelt are the most common spellings today. American members of the surname may be descended from Dutch settlers. Some of the earliest immigrants to America with the surname Vanpelt include Dirk Janse, who arrived in New Netherland in 1654, and Annetje Janse who arrived in 1660.
In Scotland, the surname is sometimes found spelled as Vampelt or Vampel. In England, it is found as Van Pella. In France, it’s Vanpell or Vandepelle.
Variants of the surname around the world also include Pelt, Pelte, Pelts, Pelz, Pell, Pelle, Pel, Pele, Pella, Pepel, Pelo, Pello, Pell, and Peld.
Pelt, Van Peltz, Vanpelz, Vanpell and Vanpelle are particularly common in the Netherlands today. In South Africa, it’s often found spelled as Peltzer, Peltziger, Peltcheck, Pelter or Pelcott. Vanpelt is also common in Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Germany and Austria.
Given all the variations and spellings this surname has gone through over the centuries, it is quite possible that different branches of the Vanpelt family have no idea that they are actually related!
Famous people with the name Vanpelt
- Paul Vanpelt: American musician, best known for his work with the band Hawkwind.
- Myron Vanpelt: American football player who played in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns.
- Bill Vanpelt: American jazz pianist and arranger known for his work with Dizzy Gillespie and Woody Herman.
- Robert Vanpelt: Canadian ice hockey player who played in the NHL for the Vancouver Canucks and the Los Angeles Kings.
- Jackie Vanpelt: American football player who played in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints and the St. Louis Rams.
- Kaja Vanpelt: Dutch volleyball player who played for the Dutch national team.
- Jurgen Vanpelt: Dutch speed skater who won a gold medal at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville.
- Mohammed Vanpelt: Dutch professional boxer and former world champion in the welterweight division.
- George Vanpelt: Dutch painter and sculptor, known for his works in the De Stijl art movement.
- Gary Vanpelt: American artist and sculptor, known for his works in the pop art movement.