Surname Vannatter - Meaning and Origin

Vannatter: What does the surname Vannatter mean?

The surname Vannatter is of Dutch origin and it is an anglicised form of the Dutch surname "Van Natter." The prefix "Van" in Dutch surnames usually means "from" and it often denotes the town or area where the original bearer of the name hailed from.

The term "Natter" is not a common Dutch word in the present language, making the translation less straightforward. It has variants like Nater, Natter, or Nathar suggesting relation to nature or the natural world. It could also possibly mean a person who lives by water, considering the Netherlands' geographical characteristics with its extensive waterways.

However, the meaning of the “Natter” portion remains largely speculative due to the changes in language over time. Therefore, it is hard to attribute a specific meaning to the last name Vannatter.

Vannatter: Where does the name Vannatter come from?

The last name Vannatter is most commonly found in the United States of America. According to the US Census Bureau, the top five states with the highest concentration of people with the last name Vannatter are Ohio, Florida, Louisiana, Illinois, and Missouri.

In Ohio, the highest concentration of Vannatters is in southwest and northwest corners of the state, primarily in the counties of Adams, Shelby, Hardin, and Auglaize. In Florida, the largest concentration is in Broward County, especially in the cities of Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, and Miami.

In Louisiana, the highest concentration of Vannatters is in Bossier Parish, particularly in Bossier City, Haughton, and Benton. In Illinois, the largest concentration of Vannatter families is in Bond and Madison counties and the city of Bloomington. The highest concentration in Missouri is in Cass and Jackson counties, with other smaller concentrations in Saline, Carroll, and Monroe counties.

Although the last name Vannatter is mainly found in the United States, it is also common in Canada, the UK and Australia. In Canada, the highest concentrations can be found in the provinces of Alberta and Ontario. In the UK, the highest concentrations are in England, and particularly in the counties of Lancastershire, Somerset, Leicestershire and Yorkshire. Australia also has a high concentration of Vannatters, mainly in Victoria and New South Wales.

Variations of the surname Vannatter

The surname Vannatter has multiple variations in spelling and surname forms. It is commonly seen as Vanatter, Van Natter, Van Nather, Vannather, and Vanneter. Other variations include Von Natter, Von Nather, Vanatter, and Von Neter.

The first recorded spelling of the surname was recorded in Scotland in 1530 as Vannetter. It is a patronymic derived from the pre-7th century Olde French term ‘vanesot’, meaning a “servant”, and later came to be spelled as ‘venester’ in Scotland. It was commonly adopted as a surname for people who were either clergy or servants.

In some cases, the surname Vanatter may have further developed into other derivative surnames. In 1692 Vannater was recorded as Vennater, and this variant is sometimes seen as van Enater. Additionally, Van—Nate is a variant found in the United States that is derived from Vannatter.

The Vannatter surname is most frequently found in the United States, where it is was first brought by early immigrants in the 17th century. It is also found in many parts of Europe, and these instances may be connected by distant ancestral ties, or they may not be directly related at all. Nevertheless, the spread of the Vannatter surname across the world is a testament to its ancient and ongoing popularity.

Famous people with the name Vannatter

• Ezra Vannatter: American artist and illustrator best known for his work in the comic book spatial and webcomic world.
• Keith Vannatter: A retired Major League Baseball pitcher.
• Charles Vannatter: A civil war veteran who fought with the 82nd Indiana Infantry Regiment of the Union Army.
• John Vannatter: A property manager and entrepreneur.
• Don Vannatter: Former NBA player and coach.
• Matt Vannatter: Former professional baseball player.
• William Vannatter: Former long-time pastor of Central Bible Church in Lafayette, Louisiana.
• Ryan Vannatter: Professional bodybuilder and fitness model.
• Frank Vannatter: Professional drifter and stunt driver.
• Edward Vannatter: American film production company owner.
• Stacey Vannatter: Former professional American football player.
• Johnathan Vannatter: Contemporary American flutist and composer.
• Matthew Valdez Vannatter: United States Ambassador to Nicaragua.
• Barbara Vannatter: American Christian author, speaker, and teacher.
• James Vannatter: Civil war medal of honor recipient.
• Kenneth Vannatter: Former United States federal judge.
• Lindsey Vannatter: Former professional softball player and coach.
• John Vannatter Jr.: American general contractor and owner of Vannatter Construction.
• Michael Vannatter: Professional sound editor.
• Marjorie Vannatter: A former Miss America contestant.

Other surnames

Vannatta