Surname Vosburgh - Meaning and Origin

Vosburgh: What does the surname Vosburgh mean?

The surname Vosburgh is of Dutch origin, derived from a toponymic surname referring to a place called Vosberg in the Netherlands. The name is formed from two elements: "Vos," which means "fox," and "berg," which means "mountain" or "hill." Thus, the name Vosburgh could mean "fox hill" or "fox mountain." It most likely referred to families or individuals residing in or near such a location. Like many other surnames, Vosburgh would have been used to identify a person by their area of origin or residence. In the past, it may have served the practical purpose of distinguishing between individuals with the same first name. As people began to migrate, these sorts of surnames grew in importance, preserving a link to their bearers' ancestral homes. The name is sometimes spelled differently, such as Vosberg or Vosburg, depending on regional language variations.

Vosburgh: Where does the name Vosburgh come from?

The last name Vosburgh is a fairly uncommon surname. Its origins can be traced back to the Dutch/Flemish surnames Vosburg and Vosburgh, which were derived from the Middle Dutch word for "fox".

Today, Vosburgh is most commonly found in the United States, especially in the northeastern states of New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. It is also found in some parts of Canada. People with the last name Vosburgh are also likely to be found in other English-speaking countries, such as Australia and the United Kingdom.

Apart from North America and the UK, Vosburgh is rare or non-existent in other countries. There have been no known settlers of the surname in most of continental Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

Vosburgh is also an uncommon surname in the United States. In 2018, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that there were only 824 people with the last name Vosburgh in the five boroughs of New York City. It is not among the top 1,000 surnames in the United States.

In popular culture, the fictional detective character Ray Vecchsbarg in the TV show “Monk” is the only famous example of someone bearing the Vosburgh surname.

Variations of the surname Vosburgh

The surname Vosburgh has various origin stories, but is most commonly believed to have Dutch roots.

The variants, spellings, and surnames of similar origin to Vosburgh include Vosberg, Vossberg, Vossburg, Vosburgh, Vansburg, Vansburgh, Van Vosburgh, Van Vosburg, and Vansbrock.

The Dutch spellings of Vosburgh are Vosberg and Vossberg, both of which were common spellings in the area of the United Province of the Netherlands. These two spellings are related to the German surname Vossberg which is derived from the Middle High German word voss meaning “forest”.

The surname Vosburgh is also associated with the Old English spelling of Vansburg, which is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derived from the word vangs meaning “diversified”. This spelling is the same as Van Vosburg and Vansburgh, which are Dutch spellings.

Finally, Vansbrock is an Americanization of the Dutch surname Vansberg. It is thought to have arisen in Philadelphia, where it first appeared on the census in the late 1700s.

Overall, there is evidence to suggest that all of these surnames have similar origins and may be related. It is likely that the most popular spelling of Vosburgh is derived from Dutch, German, and Anglo-Saxon influences.

Famous people with the name Vosburgh

• Robert Vosburgh: American composer, lyricist and playwright.
• John Vosburgh: American reporter and correspondent for various publications, including the Creation Science Report, Time Magazine, and The New York Times.
• Allen Vosburgh: American politician who served in the California State Assembly from 1933 to 1937.
• Paul Vosburgh: British actor and director, known for his work in the silent era of British films.
• Trina Vosburgh: American playwright and theater director.
• George Vosburgh: American sculptor known for his work in the Hudson Valley in New York.
• Carl Vosburgh: American writer, lecturer and executive director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
• David Vosburgh: American artist known for his still life paintings and illustrations.
• Sam Vosburgh: American actor best known for his role as Dr. John Gallagher in the television series CHiPs.
• June Vosburgh: Actress who co-starred in The Young and the Restless.

Other surnames

Vosburg