Surname Van Mater - Meaning and Origin

Van Mater: What does the surname Van Mater mean?

The surname Van Mater is of Dutch origin. The prefix “Van” in Dutch typically means “from” and is often used to denote some geographic ancestral origin. Meanwhile, "Mater" translates to "mother" in Latin, however, it is not clear if there is a direct connection since the surname is of Dutch origin, not Latin. In Dutch, the word "Mater" doesn't have a specific meaning. It could have referred to a place, occupation, or identifier for the original bearers of the name. Like many surnames, it's likely that over time the name became anglicized and adapted according to different regional dialects, accents, and spellings. Hence, without specific genealogical research and context, it is difficult to provide a definitive meaning of the surname Van Mater. However, the most common interpretation might be "from Mater." This could possibly refer to a town or area called Mater, suggesting that the original bearers of the surname hailed from this place. It could also be a patronymic surname or one based off of a person's occupation.

Van Mater: Where does the name Van Mater come from?

The last name Van Mater is most common today in the United States. In the 2000 Census, over 11,000 people bore the last name, making it the 1,477th most common name in the country.

The largest number of those with the last name Van Mater live in the Midwest, where the majority are in Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois. In the South, Georgia and South Carolina are the states with the highest concentrations of the name. The Northeast and West also report hundreds of Van Mater families, though they are more dispersed than in other parts of the country.

The last name is of Dutch origin and is found as far back as the 17th century, when records show German patricular Van Maters living in New Netherland, a Dutch colony that is now known as New York City and its surrounding areas. The surname was then thought to have migrated further westward along with Dutch settlers looking for new land opportunities.

Van Mater is still a popular last name today. This is evidenced by the fact that families still bear the surname in the United States along with a few members in Canada and Australia.

Variations of the surname Van Mater

The surname Van Mater is derived from the Dutch phrase “van maartre” or “van meteren” which means “person from the village of Maartre”. As the surname originated from the Netherlands, it is commonly seen with the Dutch spelling. Common variants of the surname include Van Meter, Van Meeter, Van Maat, Van Mat, Van Matter, Van Metter, Van Matre and Van Maiter.

When the surname is encountered in the United States, it is often spelled with the Americanized spelling Van Meter. This variant of the surname is likely a misinterpretation of the Dutch spelling or an intentional alteration resulting from more phonetically spelling of the surname. While the spelling of the surname may have changed, the surname remains unchanged in the Netherlands, where it is still spelled Van Mater.

In some cases, the surname has been altered because of immigration. This often results in misspellings or entirely new surnames. For example, in Germany, the Dutch surname has been altered to Vanmâter or Vanmmmâter. In Spain, the surname has been anglicized to Van Maestro.

There are also many surnames that have the same origin as Van Mater, such Kaater, Mater, Maat, Ment, Meteren, Maters, Mets and Meters. These surnames often served as nicknames for people living in the village of Maartre. For example, the surname Kaater could have derived from the Dutch phrase “van kaater” meaning “person from the village of Mater”.

Famous people with the name Van Mater

• James Albert Van Mater, an American recipient of the Medal of Honor
• Bruce Van Mater, an American soccer player
• Ira Warren Van Mater, an American naval officer
• Clifford Van Mater, an American businessman and aviator
• Fred Van Mater, an American songwriter and composer
• Christopher Van Mater, an American sculptor
• Jessica Van Mater, an American actress
• William L. Van Mater, an American planetary scientist
• Brian Van Mater, an American actor
• Tobias Van Mater, an American politician
• Hilary Van Mater, an American animator and illustrator
• Sylvia Van Mater, an American beat poet

Other surnames

Van Matre