Surname Van Gilder - Meaning and Origin

Van Gilder: What does the surname Van Gilder mean?

The last name Van Gilder is an anglicized Dutch name that is derived from the word “gilder”, which was a term used to describe an individual who worked with metal and could make specialized objects used in the decoration of cloth, furniture, buildings, and more. It likely either originated from the Old German “gilton”, which means “gilt” (the act of covering metals with a thin layer of gold or silver), or the Old Dutch “gillen”, which means “to shine”. The “van” portion of the name suggests that those who bore it were likely of noble Dutch decent.

Van Gilder could have also been derived from the Dutch occupation of Gildermeester, which refers to a guildmaster or an artisan who acted as an expert in a given trade or craft. A guild or trade association, guilders were responsible for protecting the rights, privileges, and interests of their members, and Van Gilder individuals could be a part of one or more of these associations. The Van Gilder name likely reflects a long legacy of producing skilled craftsmen with an attention to detail and a respect for tradition.

Overall, Van Gilder is a name that reflects a strong tradition and respect for hard work and skilled craftsmanship. Those who bear this name can take pride in their heritage and the skill set that likely reflects it.

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

Generally speaking, the last name Van Gilder is most common in the United States of America. According to the World Name Profiler, in 2019 the name was ranked #4079 among the most common surnames in the United States, making up 0.0019 of the population with over 9,652 people bearing the surname.

Today, most of those bearing the name Van Gilder can be found in the country’s most populous states. Pennsylvania is where the greatest number of non-Hispanic citizens with the surname Van Gilder are found, surpassing the concentration rate of any other state. Ohio, New York, Michigan, and California are the next highest ranked states for Van Gilder density, though the name is present in all 50 states in some capacity.

Within the United States, Van Gilder can be found in a variety of ethnic backgrounds though its known British roots can still be noticed. Outside of the US, the name seems to be relatively rare, with the exception of familiarity in some territories of Canada and England.

Overall, the Van Gilder surname has a noteworthy presence in the United States of America, mostly in its eastern and Midwestern states. Despite the hundreds of years the name has been present in the country, it has yet to spread in any other meaningful capacity globally.

Variations of the surname Van Gilder

The surname Van Gilder originates from German and Dutch roots, and its variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin span various countries. One of the most common spellings is Van Gilder, but it is also spelled Van Gelder, Van Gilden, Gilder and Gelder. Alternate surname spellings usually appear as Vangilder, Vangelder, Vangilden, and Vangelden. Other variants that have the same origin as the surname include Van Gelderen, Gelders, Gilders, Gelling, Van Gelderen, Gilden, and Gildern.

Van Gilder can be an anglicized version of the Dutch surname Van Gelderen. Some of the spelling variants have their origins in England, like Gilders, Gelders and Gelling. There are several other versions found in Germany such as Gilden, Gildner, and Goldner. The French have similar variants such as Gilderel, Gilderelle, and Guilleret.

A few variants of the name are rare and have even been used as given names, such as Guldner and Waldner. Other rare elements of the name appear in various languages, such as the Italian Gildi and Spanish Gildea.

Overall, the surname Van Gilder has many spellings and name variants, all of which have roots in Germanic and Dutch cultures. These spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin remain in countries all over the world, including the United States.

Famous people with the name Van Gilder

• Cynthia Van Gilder: Professional cyclist and five-time national cycling champion
• Cheryl Van Gilder– American former competitive figure skater
• Rory Van Gilder: Olympic cyclist
• Mike Van Gilder: Professional golfer
• Michael Van Gilder: American professional cyclist and ranked 4th in the world in 2009
• Mary Van Gilder: Figure skater at the 1988 Olympics
• Bobbi Van Gilder: Professional golfer
• Bryan Van Gilder: Cyclocross racing champion
• Teresa Van Gilder: Figure skater who won the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in 1966.

Other surnames