Explore the Family Name Vanderbilt
The meaning of Vanderbilt
Dutch (Van der Bilt): topographic name for someone living by a low hill, from bilt, a variant of bult ‘low hill’. De Bilt is the name of an area just northeast of Utrecht. History: Cornelius van der Bilt came from the Netherlands to Long Island, NY, in the second half of the 17th century. His descendant Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794–1877), financier and railroad and shipping magnate, was born on Staten Island, NY. He was the founder of a family of powerful financiers.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Vanderbilt in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Vanderbilt saw a slight decrease in rank from 2000 to 2010, moving down by 2.05% from rank 15627 to 15947. However, the total count of people with this surname increased by 6.12%, reaching 1822 individuals in 2010 compared to 1717 in 2000. Despite this increase in count, the proportion of Vanderbilts per 100k people slightly decreased by 3.12%, from 0.64 in 2000 to 0.62 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #15,627 | #15,947 | -2.05% |
| Count | 1,717 | 1,822 | 6.12% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.64 | 0.62 | -3.12% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Vanderbilt
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data indicates that the majority of people with the Vanderbilt surname identify as White, with a slight decrease of -0.80% from 78.51% in 2000 to 77.88% in 2010. Those identifying as Black made up the second largest group, decreasing by -1.77% from 18.05% in 2000 to 17.73% in 2010. The percentage of Vanderbilts identifying as Hispanic saw an increase of 47.13%, growing from 1.57% in 2000 to 2.31% in 2010. The group identifying as two or more races also saw an increase, growing by 25.71% from 1.40% in 2000 to 1.76% in 2010. There were no Vanderbilts who identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 78.51% | 77.88% | -0.8% |
| Black | 18.05% | 17.73% | -1.77% |
| Hispanic | 1.57% | 2.31% | 47.13% |
| Two or More Races | 1.4% | 1.76% | 25.71% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |