Surname Vanhook - Meaning and Origin

Vanhook: What does the surname Vanhook mean?

The surname Vanhook is of Dutch origin and is derived from the Dutch word "Van Hoek" meaning "from the corner." It is a topographical surname given to people living near a prominent corner, bend, or angle of geographical features such as rivers, roads, or borders. Such surnames were widely used in Europe in the Middle Ages as a means of identifying people, especially when people migrated from one village to another. It should be noted that Dutch 'Van' typically suggests 'from' or 'of' in English, meaning the bearer of this surname paradoxically always came from somewhere, indicating a possible nomadic or migratory past. As with many surnames, there are likely multiple families with this surname which have no relation to each other. Over time, the spelling of the surname has transformed into Vanhook.

Vanhook: Where does the name Vanhook come from?

The surname Vanhook is of English origin and is very rare today. It originated from the Norman French de Vacancé, which was translated to "Living at the Hollow". The Vanhook surname is most common in the United States, where it is estimated that there are fewer than 3,000 people with the name today. In the United States, the most common locations of the Vanhook surname are in the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Arkansas, and Texas.

Vanhooks can be traced back to the family of Jeremiah Vanhook, who is believed to have emigrated from France to America in the mid-18th century. By the mid-19th century, many of the family had moved to Kentucky and had become major landowners and merchants. The Vanhooks began moving westward in the late 19th century and settled in Texas, Arkansas, and North Carolina.

Today, the Vanhook surname can still be found in the abovementioned states, although it is much rarer due to migrations and inter-marriages among the different states. Families located in Kentucky are particularly common, and some may be descended from the Vanhooks who stayed in the state from the mid-18th century, with their descendants having populated other states. Overall, the Vanhook surname is extremely rare outside of the United States.

Variations of the surname Vanhook

The surname Vanhook is of Dutch origin and has a few spellings, variants and surnames related to it; Van Hoeck, Van Hoek, Van Hook, Van Hoke, VanHook, VanHoek, VanHook, VanHoock and VanHouck.

Vanhook is one form of the surname originating from Holland meaning “hooked” and is a nickname for someone hook-nosed.

The variants of Vanhook stem from the many translations of the name, which was derived when ancestors of the family migrated to other countries, mainly to the United States and England.

Van Hoeck is the spelling of the surname found throughout Flanders and Brussels.

Van Hoek is Dutch and Dutch-American and found mainly in the Netherlands.

Van Hook is the American spelling and is found in many parts of the world with the main concentration of this variation in the United States.

Van Hoke is also an American spelling, and is found throughout America.

VanHook is another familiar spelling of the surname but is found mostly in the southwest United States.

VanHoek is the third common spelling of the name and is of Dutch origin. This name is found mainly in the United States, especially in the northeast and midwest.

VanHook is another variant on the name and is found mainly in the United States and England.

VanHoock is an American spelling of the surname and is found mainly in the United States but can also be found in Canada.

VanHouck is the final variant of the surname Vanhook and is also found mainly in the United States.

Famous people with the name Vanhook

• Valerie Van Hook: American actress known for her role in A Cinderella Story.
• John William Van Hook: American painter and sculptor known for his highly detailed bronze sketches of Native American life and culture.
• Jacob Vanhook: 19th century American politician from Tennessee who served in the House of Representatives from 1815 to 1819.
• Clara Anne Vanhook: American pioneer and settler in what is now Franklin County, TN.
• Abigail Taylor Van Hook: American beauty pageant contestant from Miss Oklahoma USA 2003.
• William H. Van Hook: American Civil War officer from Kentucky.
• Lori Van Hook: American actress and model known for appearing in shows like Baywatch and The Young and the Restless.
• Edgar L. Van Hook: American postmaster who served in North Carolina and the Greenville area from 1900-1930.
• Zachary Van Hook: American legislative aide to the governor of Delaware.
• Michael Van Hook: American athlete who competed in the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics as a member of USA Track and Field.

Other surnames

VanhooserVanhoyVanhoye