Vann History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Netherlands
Wales
Ireland

The surname Vann is derived from the Middle English words "fein," "fayn," or " fane," which all mean "glad." The name was a nickname for a happy or good-natured person. The name could also have been a local name derived from the expression "at the van" or in other words near the "threshing-floor" derived from the word "van" which was a threshing instrument.

Early Origins of the Vann family

The surname Vann was first found in Monmouthshire (Welsh: Sir Fynwy), where the ancestors of the earls of Westmorland, "wrote their name Vane, and descended from Howel ap Vane, living there before the time of William the Conqueror" 1 living about the year 1060.

Another reference states: "The Fanes or Vanes are said to have originated from Wales; in the reign of Henry VI, they were seated at Hilden in Tunbridge, in Kent, by marriage with the Peshalls." 2

Early History of the Vann family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Vann research. Another 130 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1580, 1589, 1602, 1613, 1616, 1625, 1626, 1629, 1639, 1645, 1653, 1655, 1662, 1663, 1666, 1680, 1681, 1682, 1689, 1693, 1708, 1710, 1715, 1721, 1723, 1727 and 1734 are included under the topic Early Vann History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Vann Spelling Variations

Although there are not an extremely large number Welsh surnames, there are an inordinately large number of spelling variations of those surnames. This variety of spellings began almost immediately after the acceptance of surnames within Welsh society. As time progressed, these old Brythonic names were eventually were recorded in English. This process was problematic in that many of the highly inflected sounds of the native language of Wales could not be properly captured in English. Some families, however, did decide to modify their own names to indicate a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even a patriotic affiliation. The name Vann has seen various spelling variations: Fane, Ap Fane, Fain, Vane, Vain, Veynes, Vanes and others.

Early Notables of the Vann family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was Francis Fane (1580-1629), 1st Earl of Westmorland (second creation); Mildmay Fane, 2nd Earl of Westmorland (1602-1666), an English nobleman, politician, and writer; Lady Mary Fane (1639-1681) was the daughter of Mildmay Fane, 2nd Earl of Westmorland; Sir Henry Vane the Elder (1589-1655), English courtier, father of Henry Vane the Younger; Sir Henry Vane the Younger (1613-1662), statesman, Puritan, son of Henry Vane the Elder; and his son, Christopher Vane, 1st Baron Barnard (1653-1723), an English peer; George Fane (c. 1616-1663) was an English politician who fought for the...
Another 98 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Vann Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Vann Ranking

In the United States, the name Vann is the 1,964^th most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Vann family to Ireland

Some of the Vann family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Vann migration to the United States +

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many people from Wales joined the general migration to North America in search of land, work, and freedom. These immigrants greatly contributed to the rapid development of the new nations of Canada and the United States. They also added a rich and lasting cultural heritage to their newly adopted societies. Investigation of immigration and passenger lists has revealed a number of people bearing the name Vann:

Vann Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Vann, who arrived in Virginia in 1666 4

Vann Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Thomas Vann, aged 22, who immigrated to the United States from England, in 1902
Mary Vann, aged 29, who landed in America from Southampton, in 1904
H.H. Vann, aged 24, who landed in America, in 1905
Eugene Ellis Vann, aged 24, who immigrated to the United States from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1908
Felix Vann, aged 19, who landed in America, in 1910
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Vann (post 1700) +

Albert Vann (1934-2022), American politician and a member of the New York City Council from Brooklyn
Vicki Vann (b. 1980), American country music artist, model and actress
Norwood Vann (b. 1962), retired American football NFL player who played in the mid-1980s
David Johnson Vann (1928-2000), American politician, Mayor of Birmingham, Alabama (1975-1979)
Kevin William Vann (b. 1951), American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange
Marc Vann (b. 1954), American actor, best known for his role as Conrad Ecklie in the television series, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Lieutenant Colonel John Paul Vann (1924-1972), the first American civilian to command U.S. regular troops in combat as Major General 5
George Vann, American politician, Candidate for Maryland State House of Delegates District 28, 1998 6
E. J. Vann, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Florida, 1888 6
David Vann, American politician, Mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, 1975-79 6
... (Another 17 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Vann Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Ne vile fano
Motto Translation: Bring nothing base to the template.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
John Vann. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) John Vann. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Paul_Vann
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html