Surname Vos - Meaning and Origin
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Vos: What does the surname Vos mean?
Vos is a surname of Dutch, Flemish and Afrikaans origin. The word "Vos" means "fox" in Dutch, so it could have originated as a nickname for a cunning or sly person, similar to how the traits of animals are used in English surnames like Wolf or Lyon. Alternatively, it could be a toponymic surname, denoting someone who lived in a place known for foxes. It's also common in South Africa due to the history of Dutch settlers. There are also variations of the surname in other cultures; for example, it could be a shortened form of the Spanish surname "Vasquez". Like many surnames, the exact origins and meaning of "Vos" can depend on the individual family history and lineage.
Order DNA origin analysisVos: Where does the name Vos come from?
The surname Vos is a Dutch toponymic surname originating from the Vos family, a prominent noble family from the Netherlands active from the era of the Burgundian Netherlands. The most common variations of the name today are Van Vos, Vos or Vossen. It is primarily found in the west and south of the Netherlands, specifically in the provinces Noord-Brabant and Limburg. Additionally, the surname has spread to other countries due to increased levels of migration during the 20th century, particularly to the United States, Canada, Australia, and South Africa.
In the Netherlands, there are about 7,000 people with the last name Vos living in the region today, primarily in province Noord-Brabant and the region of Limburg. However, the most common variation of the last name, Van Vos, is only present in Noord-Brabant and the area around Limburg.
In the United States, the largest populations of people with the last name Vos are located in Wisconsin, Michigan, California, and Florida. In the 2000 Census, the numbers for Vos ranged between 3,812 and 5,180, although many people with the surname may have chosen to identify themselves with more common variations like Voss or Van Vos.
In Canada, the number of people with the name Vos is much lower, with some having identified it as their surname in the 2006 Canadian Census. Most of these people were from Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia. Australia also shows few people with the surname Vos, however, many people have identified themselves as having a variation of the name, such as Vosse or Van Vos.
Overall, it appears that the last name Vos is most commonly found within the Netherlands, with smaller populations spread out across other countries, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and South Africa.
Variations of the surname Vos
The surname Vos is a Dutch and German patronymic that originated as a variation of the personal name Voske, or Fox. The Vos name can take different spellings, including Voss, Voos, Vaus, Vause, Votz, Votzke and Votke. In Dutch, the name is usually spelled with two ‘o’s, Voos, while in German it is often spelled Voss.
The spelling Vause is found in Christianity records from Germany and corresponds to the German ‘au’ sound, as in Autz. The ‘o’ in the spellings Voos and Vos is exempt of any additional vowels. The variant Votz is a derivation of the German word ‘votz’ which meant limp.
The distinction between Vos and Voss is more a consequence of the Dutch vs. German language than distinct spelling variants of the same familial name.
In Dutch, Vos is a classic surname. In Germany, Voss is a more common version.
The patronymic surnames derived from the Vos surname include Voskamp, Vosberg, Vosberg, Vossen, Vosstraten, Voskuil, Vossenaar, Vroon, Van Vossen and Van Vos. In the Netherlands, however, the variation Van Vossen is most common.
Vos also became an Americanized version of the name when immigrants settled in US cities from their homeland. It was also anglicized to Voses, a variant that persists in America today.
Today, Vos is a popular Dutch surname and can also be found in Australia, England, the United States, Romania and France.
Famous people with the name Vos
- Martin Vos: Dutch politician and a member of the Labour Party.
- Paulo Vos: famous Brazilian footballer who represented his country at the 2002 World Cup.
- John Vos: a noted landscape painter from the Netherlands.
- Sietske Vos: a Dutch mixed martial artist who was the first ever women's featherweight champion of the United States-based MMA promotion, Invicta FC.
- Kimberly Vos: an American architect who specializes in designing buildings that are both contemporary and sensitive to their environment.
- Daniel Vos: the backing vocalist for the band Kings of Leon.
- Ernest Vos: a Belgian composer and organist of the Renaissance period.
- Dave Vos: a former baseball pitcher who played in the Major League with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1993.
- Stijn Vos: professional Dutch cyclist who participates in road bicycle racing events.
- Joost Vos: a Dutch entrepreneur and one of the founders of the discount travel website, Emako.