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Vanatta Family History & Genealogy

1,068 biographies and 3 photos with the Vanatta last name. Discover the family history, nationality, origin and common names of Vanatta family members.

Vanatta Last Name History & Origin

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Summary

This Vanatta history and genealogy page contains the contributed history of the
Vanatta surname made up of user contributed content from descendants and their
connections interested in the Vanatta families. In the United States, the last
name Vanatta, and its variants, is a place name that typically was assigned by
customs officials to Dutch immigrants to the U.S. that emigrated from the same
part of what is now the southern part of the Netherlands ("Holland")
and shared very common surnames, such as "Jensen", which means
"son of John" (compare "Johnson").

History

Although the Dutch natives and their ancestors have spread all across the world--they were early and industrious traders who sailed all over--leaving a record of people (descendants) was apparently of little or no concern compared to recording the details of shipping goods (and, alas, sometimes people). Many Dutch descendants hailed from the part of Holland that is called "Etten"--now "Etten-Leur" after the merger of these two cities. Many variants of the name exist, including the name listed in this index, "Vanatta". The original version, which U.S. Immigration officers created variants of, was probably whatever the immigrant in front of them seemed to be saying. The logical beginning of this name for thousands of immigrants who hailed from the same area, but who were not all related by blood, is "van Etten", that is, "from Etten". "van" is simply a preposition in Dutch; it means "from". One can compare Leonardo da Vinci: an illegitimate child who had no surname therefore (by Italian law), so that he was called "Leonardo from ('da') Vinci" (a city, his home). So, here in the U.S. there are many variations of the name "van Etten", but the variants with some version of "atta" in them seem to be the commonest--perhaps because the Dutch pronunciation of the letter "e" sounds to the British-American ear more like an "a". People sharing the same variant of Vanatta therefore, are not necessarily related. Many simply have ancestors from the area of Etten in what is now the southern part of the Netherlands. But because the name (of any variant) is relatively unusual in most parts of the U.S. people often assume all (of us) are related somehow. As it happens, we typically don't know either, beyond relatively a few generations back, who is or who may be a blood relation. Van Atta (this writer's variant) descendants tend to look forward, not backward. This Vanatta history and genealogy page contains the contributed history of the
Vanatta surname made up of user contributed content from descendants and their
connections interested in the Vanatta families. In the United States, the last
name Vanatta, and its variants, is a place name that typically was assigned by
customs officials to Dutch immigrants to the U.S. that emigrated from the same
part of what is now the southern part of the Netherlands ("Holland")
and shared very common surnames, such as "Jensen", which means
"son of John" (compare "Johnson").

Name Origin

The Summary and Vanatta History sections, above, describe the origin of the "name"--originally simply a prepositional phrase that U.S. immigration officials long ago assigned to Dutch immigrants sharing very common names. First come, first choice, it was, because immigrants who arrived before ancestors with the same surname, Jensen--for example--kept their name, while later arrivers named Jensen were given new names as described above. This practice of renaming Dutch immigrants began the explosion of variants of the prepositional phrase that simply described where those immigrants came from. They came "van Etten"--"from Etten".

Spellings & Pronunciations

See the Summary and Vanatta History sections for an explanation of spelling variations--by U.S. immigration officials, not by the Dutch Jensens and other families who came to this wondrous country with their own names--comparatively--but stayed on with the new names assigned to them. Even among Vanattas (or among Van Attas, van Ettens, vanettens, Van Attars and many more), one Vanatta bumping into another Vanatta may not be related at all. The name's true origin and spelling lie in bureaucracy, not birth.

Nationality & Ethnicity

The history of Holland (properly "The Netherlands") is storied, given its short existence under its current proper name and boundaries. Indeed, the southern part of the Netherlands from which most if not all Van Attas/Vanattas/van Ettens, etc., hail was not always joined to the northern part. Etten and its environs are in/close to the Flemish country and so very near another country whose modern form also merged cultures, Belgium. The Dutch in their most powerful days not only were wealthy (especially from the shipping trade, either directly or indirectly), but also powerful (they supplied one of the kings of England, William, of the William and Mary era). Today, the Netherlands is best known for gouda cheese, wooden shoes, wind mills and tulips (which originated in Turkey and inspired a famous bidding war that shook the Dutch economy.) So much more can be said of the Dutch, a remarkable people. But the name Vanatta, etc., marks a split from that country, so that Van Attas, etc.,often know only a little more about the Netherlands, Holland, etc., than do tourists. Dutch, from the southern part of the Netherlands, in and around a city called Etten in the past, now Etten-Leur.

Famous People named Vanatta

Are there famous people from the Vanatta family? Share their story.

Early Vanattas

These are the earliest records we have of the Vanatta family.

Irene Vanatta of Berkeley, Alameda County, California was born on June 20, 1870, and died at age 104 years old in June 1974.
Felix Vanatta of Illinois was born on April 21, 1871, and died at age 93 years old in February 1965.
Benjamin Vanatta of Aledo, Mercer County, Illinois was born on June 26, 1873, and died at age 94 years old in December 1967.
Clara Vanatta of San Gabriel, Los Angeles County, California was born on January 10, 1874, and died at age 95 years old in July 1969.
Tacie Vanatta of Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan was born on August 25, 1875, and died at age 91 years old in May 1967.
Ernest Vanatta of Aledo, Mercer County, Illinois was born on July 25, 1875, and died at age 92 years old in December 1967.
Vada Vanatta of Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio was born on January 1, 1875, and died at age 94 years old in January 1969.
Mayme Vanatta of Glendale, Los Angeles County, California was born on May 22, 1876, and died at age 91 years old in December 1967.
Pauline Vanatta of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma was born on March 4, 1876, and died at age 98 years old in April 1974.
Charles Vanatta of Big Run, Jefferson County, PA was born on March 2, 1876, and died at age 96 years old in May 1972.
Mary A Vanatta of Temple, Bell County, TX was born on February 25, 1876, and died at age 94 years old on May 15, 1970.
Frank Vanatta of Michigan was born on October 4, 1876, and died at age 86 years old in March 1963.

Vanatta Family Photos

Discover Vanatta family photos shared by the community. These photos contain people and places related to the Vanatta last name.

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Vanatta Family Tree

Discover the most common names, oldest records and life expectancy of people with the last name Vanatta.

Most Common First Names

Updated Vanatta Biographies

Wayne is the step-son of Joyce Vanatta. The birth son of Lillian Louise Vanatta, Bowling Green, Ky. Deceased
Joyce K Vanatta of Pulaski, Giles County, TN was born on December 9, 1933, and died at age 68 years old on December 24, 2001.
Victor E Vanatta of Greenup, Cumberland County, IL was born on February 24, 1919, and died at age 74 years old on February 3, 1994.
Joseph G Vanatta of Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio was born on March 30, 1907, and died at age 65 years old in July 1972.
Robert O Vanatta of Portland, Multnomah County, OR was born on August 12, 1923, and died at age 81 years old on August 9, 2005.
Paul D Vanatta of Newark, Licking County, OH was born on October 19, 1916, and died at age 88 years old on April 17, 2005.
Paul M Vanatta of Bremen, Fairfield County, Ohio was born on December 31, 1913, and died at age 67 years old in July 1981.
Melvin C Vanatta of Greenville, Darke County, Ohio was born on July 28, 1910, and died at age 70 years old in December 1980.
Buford N Vanatta of Liberty, Dekalb County, TN was born on July 15, 1920, and died at age 78 years old on December 22, 1998.
Darrell M Vanatta of Findlay, Hancock County, OH was born on May 2, 1915, and died at age 80 years old on February 25, 1996.
Mervin L Vanatta of Findlay, Hancock County, OH was born on February 21, 1919, and died at age 70 years old on April 8, 1989.
Roger H Vanatta of Newark, Licking County, Ohio was born on December 10, 1916, and died at age 70 years old in September 1987.
Frank C Vanatta of Orlando, Orange County, FL was born on November 25, 1918, and died at age 85 years old on September 2, 2004.
Earl R Vanatta of Chico, Butte County, CA was born on March 12, 1918, and died at age 75 years old on December 25, 1993.
Elmer L Vanatta of Franklin, Williamson County, Tennessee was born on May 12, 1923, and died at age 55 years old in March 1979.
Arthur W Vanatta of Greenwood, Johnson County, IN was born on February 1, 1923, and died at age 74 years old on January 2, 1998.
David W Vanatta of Duncansville, Blair County, PA was born on December 16, 1919, and died at age 63 years old in September 1983.
Max S Vanatta of Waverly, Tioga County, NY was born on September 28, 1919, and died at age 80 years old on October 11, 1999.
Ralph G Vanatta of Kenton, Hardin County, Ohio was born on July 11, 1917, and died at age 57 years old in June 1975.
Ralph W Vanatta of Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas was born on February 13, 1907, and died at age 79 years old in May 1986.

Popular Vanatta Biographies

Andrew T Vanatta was born on April 19, 1994 at findlay ohio. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Andrew T Vanatta.
Wayne is the step-son of Joyce Vanatta. The birth son of Lillian Louise Vanatta, Bowling Green, Ky. Deceased
Kelly W Vanatta of Higginsville, Lafayette County, MO was born on May 9, 1975, and died at age 31 years old on June 4, 2006.
Colby F Vanatta
Colby F Vanatta of Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa County, FL was born on June 2, 1929, and died at age 82 years old on July 16, 2011.
Letha Jane VanAtta
Letha Jane (VanAtta) Green was born on November 18, 1880 in Brush Prairie, Clark County, Washington United States, and was the mother of Marguerite Helena Green.. Letha Green died at age 87 years old on July 15, 1968 in Portland, Multnomah County, OR. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Letha Jane VanAtta.
Joyce K Vanatta of Pulaski, Giles County, TN was born on December 9, 1933, and died at age 68 years old on December 24, 2001.
Edward H Vanatta of Grand Rapids, Kent County, MI was born on August 9, 1895, and died at age 99 years old on July 1, 1995.
Clare Vanatta of Port Edwards, Wood County, Wisconsin was born on November 19, 1903, and died at age 81 years old in June 1985.
Joanne Vanatta of Suffern, Rockland County, NY was born on July 5, 1942, and died at age 62 years old on December 15, 2004.
Lillian Vanatta of Phillipsburg, Warren County, NJ was born on November 13, 1893, and died at age 82 years old in January 1976.
Carolyn A Vanatta was born on December 31, 1977, and died at age 30 years old on July 19, 2008. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Carolyn A Vanatta.
George A Vanatta was born on October 16, 1893, and died at age 96 years old on May 18, 1990. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember George A Vanatta.
Jacob Vanatta of Cortland, Cortland County, NY was born on February 25, 1893, and died at age 77 years old in November 1970.
Irma Vanatta of Oroville, Butte County, CA was born on June 21, 1891, and died at age 93 years old in November 1984.
Homer Vanatta of Avella, Washington County, Pennsylvania was born on November 20, 1913, and died at age 68 years old in May 1982.
Dorothy P Vanatta was born on December 31, 1927, and died at age 63 years old on December 6, 1991. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Dorothy P Vanatta.
Charles Vanatta of Fredericktown, Knox County, Ohio was born on October 9, 1893, and died at age 79 years old in September 1973.
Ralph Vanatta of Reynoldsburg, Franklin County, OH was born on January 5, 1920, and died at age 77 years old on April 17, 1997.
Eugene Vanatta of Barberton, Summit County, Ohio was born on December 5, 1895, and died at age 87 years old in May 1983.
Geneva Vanatta was born on February 26, 1890, and died at age 90 years old in August 1980. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Geneva Vanatta.

Vanatta Death Records & Life Expectancy

The average age of a Vanatta family member is 74.0 years old according to our database of 947 people with the last name Vanatta that have a birth and death date listed.

Life Expectancy

74.0 years

Oldest Vanattas

These are the longest-lived members of the Vanatta family on AncientFaces.

Irene Vanatta of Berkeley, Alameda County, California was born on June 20, 1870, and died at age 104 years old in June 1974.
103 years
Osa B Vanatta of Indianapolis, Marion County, IN was born on January 7, 1898, and died at age 101 years old on October 15, 1999.
101 years
Amelia M Vanatta of Columbus, Franklin County, OH was born on September 3, 1893, and died at age 101 years old on December 12, 1994.
101 years
Lillian W Vanatta of Sheridan, Sheridan County, WY was born on March 6, 1901, and died at age 100 years old on May 4, 2001.
100 years
Alice H Vanatta of Flint, Genesee County, MI was born on August 4, 1888, and died at age 99 years old on May 8, 1988.
99 years
Elizabeth M Vanatta of Muscatine, Muscatine County, IA was born on March 5, 1894, and died at age 100 years old on October 6, 1994.
100 years
Veda F Vanatta of South Lyon, Oakland County, MI was born on December 5, 1899, and died at age 99 years old on March 4, 1999.
99 years
Edward H Vanatta of Grand Rapids, Kent County, MI was born on August 9, 1895, and died at age 99 years old on July 1, 1995.
99 years
Claude E Vanatta of Charleston, Coles County, IL was born on July 28, 1907, and died at age 98 years old on April 20, 2006.
98 years
Annie L Vanatta of Lebanon, Wilson County, TN was born on September 10, 1902, and died at age 98 years old on February 6, 2001.
98 years
Mary Vanatta of Washington, District of Columbia County, DC was born on September 30, 1906, and died at age 98 years old on May 12, 2005.
98 years
Oscar Vanatta of Harrisburg, Dauphin County, PA was born on July 25, 1884, and died at age 98 years old in April 1983.
98 years
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