NameCensus.

UK surname

Vandermerwe

Of Dutch origins, a surname indicating one who hailed from a place called "De Merwe".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Southwark, Kensington and Chelsea and Merton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Vandermerwe is 497 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

473

2016, ranked #10,409

Peak year

2014

497 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 473 in 2016, ranked #10,409.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Vandermerwe surname distribution map

The map shows where the Vandermerwe surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Vandermerwe surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Vandermerwe over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1997 modern 97 #27,342
1998 modern 130 #23,603
1999 modern 163 #20,698
2000 modern 203 #18,043
2001 modern 213 #17,267
2002 modern 282 #14,585
2003 modern 302 #13,752
2004 modern 324 #13,197
2005 modern 346 #12,464
2006 modern 403 #11,187
2007 modern 422 #10,904
2008 modern 433 #10,776
2009 modern 451 #10,649
2010 modern 485 #10,277
2011 modern 468 #10,460
2012 modern 491 #10,013
2013 modern 491 #10,158
2014 modern 497 #10,113
2015 modern 478 #10,343
2016 modern 473 #10,409

Geography

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Where Vandermerwes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Southwark, Kensington and Chelsea and Merton. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Southwark 008 Southwark
2 Southwark 001 Southwark
3 Kensington and Chelsea 014 Kensington and Chelsea
4 Merton 010 Merton
5 Merton 016 Merton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Vandermerwe

These lists show first names that appear often with the Vandermerwe surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Vandermerwe

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Vandermerwe, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Vandermerwe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Vandermerwe household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Vandermerwe is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Vandermerwe is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Vandermerwe falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Vandermerwe is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Vandermerwe, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Vandermerwe

The surname VANDERMERWE originated in the Netherlands, where it was initially spelled as "van der Merwe". The name can be traced back to the 17th century, when it was commonly used in the Dutch provinces of South Holland and North Brabant.

VANDERMERWE is a locational surname derived from the Dutch words "van der" meaning "from the" and "Merwe", which refers to a small river or stream. This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who lived near a river or stream called "Merwe".

One of the earliest recorded instances of the VANDERMERWE name can be found in the Dutch Reformed Church records of Dordrecht, a city in the western Netherlands, dating back to the late 1600s. Another early reference appears in the archives of the Dutch East India Company, where a certain Pieter van der Merwe was listed as a soldier stationed in Cape Town, South Africa, in the year 1688.

As the Dutch established colonies in South Africa during the 17th and 18th centuries, many individuals bearing the VANDERMERWE surname migrated to the Cape region. Over time, the spelling evolved to its modern form, "VANDERMERWE", which became more prevalent in South African records.

Notable individuals with the VANDERMERWE surname include:

1. Izak Jacobus VANDERMERWE (1718-1786), a Dutch farmer and one of the first Europeans to explore the interior of South Africa. 2. Nicolaas Jacobus VANDERMERWE (1888-1966), a South African writer and poet, known for his works depicting life in the Karoo region. 3. Schalk Willem VANDERMERWE (1903-1964), a South African rugby player who represented the national team, the Springboks, in the 1920s. 4. Gerrit Johannes VANDERMERWE (1914-1970), a prominent South African architect and urban planner, whose designs influenced the development of several cities in the country. 5. Ria VANDERMERWE (born 1970), a South African singer and songwriter, known for her contributions to the Afrikaans music scene.

While the VANDERMERWE name has its roots in the Netherlands, it has become closely associated with South Africa, where many families bearing this surname have made significant contributions to various aspects of society, including agriculture, literature, sports, and architecture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Vandermerwe surname: questions and answers

How common is the Vandermerwe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 473 in 2016. That gives Vandermerwe a modern rank of #10,409.

What does the Vandermerwe surname mean?

Of Dutch origins, a surname indicating one who hailed from a place called "De Merwe".

What does the Vandermerwe map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Vandermerwe bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.