Surname Vanhoy - Meaning and Origin

Vanhoy: What does the surname Vanhoy mean?

The surname Vanhoy is of Flemish or Dutch origin. It is a habitational name, meaning that it is derived from a place name, typically where the initial bearer once resided or held land. The name is a combination of two components - "van," which means "from" in Dutch, and "Hoy," which is a place name. However, the exact location referred by "Hoy" is uncertain as multiple places named Hoy exist in the Netherlands and Belgium, and Hoy is also an Orkney island in Scotland. Therefore, Vanhoy roughly translates to "from Hoy" signifying that the original bearer of this surname was from a place called Hoy. However, due to the multiple possibilities of the location, the exact ancestral place referred by this surname may vary among different families bearing this name.

Vanhoy: Where does the name Vanhoy come from?

The last name Vanhoy is most commonly found in the United States and Canada in today’s world. It likely originated from Scandinavian countries, such as Norway, Sweden and Denmark, since they were some of the earliest people to come to what is now the United States and Canada.

In the United States, the two states in which the surname Vanhoy is most commonly found are North Carolina and South Carolina. Vanhoy is found less often in other states, but can still be located in occurrences throughout the country.

In Canada, the surname is not as widely distributed as in the United States and is commonly found in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario.

In addition to the United States and Canada, Vanhoy is also found in a few other countries, including Portugal, England, Scotland, Mexico and Argentina, though much less abundantly than in either north American country.

The surname Vanhoy is a rather uncommon one, but those who have it can find comfort in the fact that it has been around since at least the early 1600s. Since its origin point was likely Scandinavia, one can assume that it was used in that region prior to its use in the United States and Canada.

Variations of the surname Vanhoy

The surname Vanhoy has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common spelling of the surname Vanhoy is Van Hoy or Van Hoye, and the alternative spellings include Van Hoey, Van Hoeye, Van Hoij, Van Hoyt, Van Hoyte, Van Hoyle, Van Huij and Van Huije.

The surname Vanhoy is found in places where the Dutch and Belgians have settled, particularly in South Africa, Namibia and the United States. Other related surnames are common in these countries too, and include Van Hooydonk, Vanhy, Van Hove, Vanhouwe, Vanhove, Van Hamel, Van Haagen, Vanham, Van Houter, Vanhoucke, Vanhogendorp and Vanhout.

In the United States, many descendants of Dutch settlers anglicized their surnames to conform with American customs. As a result, the name "Vanhoy" is often found spelled as "Van House" in records.

Variations of spelling are also common in the Netherlands; the most commonly used spellings are "van Hoij" and "van Hoy". In Germany, the spelling of the name is usually "Vanhoye", while in the Netherlands, it is most commonly found as "Vanhoy".

The anglicized version of the surname Vanhoy is Vanhooy, and it can also be found as Vanhooydonk, Vanhooyhuis or Vanhooye. Other anglicized versions of the surname include Vietnam, Von Hooy and Hoey.

Regardless of how the surname is spelled, its descendants all share a common origin. The Vanhoy family is descended from the old Dutch family of the same name, which is also known as the IJnschieners. The earliest records of this family date back to the 16th century in the provinces of North and South Holland.

Famous people with the name Vanhoy

• Thomas Vanhoy: A former NFL football player, Thomas Vanhoy played for five teams and even appeared in Super Bowl XXXIV as a wide receiver for the St. Louis Rams.
• Andy Vanhoy: A contemporary Christian and country music artist, Andy Vanhoy has released over 30 singles and several albums throughout his career.
• Byron Vanhoy: An American talk show host, Byron Vanhoy hosted his own self-titled show in 2012 and has made seemingly countless appearances on news networks as a guest commentator.
• Gale Vanhoy: A competitive shooter from Georgia, USA, Gale Vanhoy is an avid 3-Guncompetitor and the owner of Destroyer Targets.
• Robert Vanhoy: An English landscape painter, Robert Vanhoy is known for his use of vibrant colors and the depiction of pastoral scenes in his work.
• Larry Vanhoy: A professional boxer from Maryland, USA, Larry Vanhoy competed in the early ‘90s, mainly fighting out of Washington D.C.
• Cynthia Vanhoy: A celebrated American painter, Cynthia Vanhoy is known for her vivid colors and impressionistic brushwork.
• Robert Ray Vanhoy: An honors graduate of the US Naval Academy, Robert Ray Vanhoy achieved the rank of Rear Admiral in the US Navy during his career.
• Robbie Vanhoy: An American folk singer, Robbie Vanhoy has created a barrier-breaking blend of bluegrass, rock and country, making for a unique and engaging listening experience.

Other surnames

VanhookVanhooserVanhoye