Surname Vorhees - Meaning and Origin

Vorhees: What does the surname Vorhees mean?

Vorhees is an anglicized version of the Dutch surname "Van der Hees," which is a toponymic surname denoting someone from a place called "Hees." This name is most commonly associated with the fictional character Jason Voorhees of the "Friday the 13th" horror movie series. The word "Hees" in Dutch refers to a wooded or bushy area, so the original surname "Van der Hees" could be translated as "from the woods" or "from the bush." Sometimes, it can be spelled as Voorheis, Vorhies, Vorhes, or other variations. However, like many surnames, its meaning can vary based on geographical origins and family history.

Vorhees: Where does the name Vorhees come from?

The last name Vorhees is most commonly found within the United States today. The surname originates from the Netherlands, and began to enter the US in the mid-1800s. The majority of individuals with the last name Vorhees live in the states of Michigan and Ohio. This likely reflects the fact that many Dutch immigrants chose to settle in the Midwest United States during the 19th century.

In Michigan, the highest concentration of Vorhees is located in the central southwest portion of the state, particularly around Grand Rapids. Meanwhile in Ohio, the highest rate of Vorhees is located in the northwest part of the state, primarily around Toledo.

In the 2000 American Census, 1,237 individuals with the last name of Vorhees were recorded, living in all 50 states of the United States. The highest number of accounts, 579, reported Vorhees as their surname in Michigan. The next largest population of Vorhees, 259, were found living in Ohio. At a greatly reduced amount, the remaining few hundred individuals with the last name Vorhees were spread across the rest of the US in locations such as New Jersey, California, Washington, and Georgia.

Of the 1,237 Vorhees living in the US in 2000, the racial makeup was mainly white, with about 56.3% of individuals with the surname reported as being of white heritage. The remaining 43.7% of people with the last name were a mixture of other races, including African American, Native American, and Western Asian.

In summary, today the last name Vorhees is most commonly found living within the United States. The majority of individuals with the last name Vorhees live in the states of Michigan and Ohio. These populations of Vorhees likely originate from Dutch immigrants who chose to settle in the Midwest US in the 19th century.

Variations of the surname Vorhees

The surname Vorhees is a Dutch surname with Germanic roots. Variants, spellings and surnames of similar origin include Vorhies, Voorhees, Voorhies, Verhees, Verhies, and Voerhees.

Vorhees is originally a patronymic surname, deriving from the Dutch personal name Vorhe, which is derived from the word "vorf," meaning "precursor" or "forerunner." The "e" at the end of Vorhe would have been added at the end of the word when the Dutch language changed to conform to the new spelling requirements as of the 16th century.

When immigrants with the surname Vorhees moved to English-speaking countries, such as the United States, they often changed the spelling to Voorhees, Voorhies, and Verhees to make the surname easier to pronounce. Similarly, when they moved to the German-speaking part of Holland, they spelled it "Voerhees."

Vorhees is also a Dutch word meaning “wood” or “forest,” so some have added the prefix “de” to their surnames, resulting in De Vorhees, De Voorhees, and De Verhees.

The surname can be found all over the world, having been carried with various immigrants from the Netherlands to different countries. Variants of Vorhees can be found in North America, South America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Famous people with the name Vorhees

• Sean S. Cunningham: Film Director best known for creating the Friday the 13th franchise.
• Theodore S. Vorhees: American military doctor and physiologist.
• Joshua R. Vorhees: American mathematician and professor.
• Joseph S. Vorhees:American professor of history at Rutgers University.
• J. Franklin Vorhees: American politician and former Mayor of Dallas, Texas.
• Wendy L. Vorhees: American artist and poet.
• Andrea Vorhees: American businesswoman and the former CEO of Four Star Cable.
• Curtis Vorhees: American actor best known for portraying Jason Voorhees in the 1988 film Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood.
• Jake Thomas Vorhees: American actor best known for playing Matt McGuire on the hit show Lizzie McGuire.
• Alice T. Vorhees:American painter and popular illustrator of children's books in the early 20th century.

Other surnames

VorheisVorhes