Show ContentsPelt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Pelt surname is occupational in origin. It comes from the Latin word "pellis," meaning "skin" or "hide," and would have originally been born by someone who tanned or sold hides and pelts for a living.

Early Origins of the Pelt family

The surname Pelt was first found in Holland, where the name became noted for its many branches in the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied by the princes of the region. The name was first recorded in North Holland, a province of the Netherlands. The principal cities are Amsterdam, Haarlem and Hilversum. Many of the old Counts of Holland held a family seat in this region, including one of the nations oldest families, in Brederode Castle near Haarlem.

Early History of the Pelt family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pelt research. Another 79 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1766 and 1792 are included under the topic Early Pelt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pelt Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Pelten, Peltzer, Peltre, Pelzer, Pellt, Pelter, Peltern, Pelteren and many more.

Early Notables of the Pelt family

From this era of Dutch history, those of this who distinguished themselves included

  • the Pelt family of Holland

Pelt Ranking

In the United States, the name Pelt is the 13,193rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


United States Pelt migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Pelt Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Anthony van Pelt, who arrived in New York in 1663
  • Wouter van Pelt, who settled in America in 1663
Pelt Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Albertus Van Pelt, who arrived in Iowa in 1854 2
  • Andries Van Pelt, who landed in Iowa in 1855 2
  • Dirk Van Pelt, who arrived in Iowa in 1855 2
  • Leendert Van Pelt, who landed in Iowa in 1855 2
  • Maria Adriana Van Pelt, who arrived in Iowa in 1855 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Pelt (post 1700) +

  • John Vredenburgh Van Pelt (1874-1962), American architectural historian, author
  • Bradlee Van Pelt (b. 1980), American NFL football quarterback and safety
  • Bo Van Pelt (b. 1975), American professional golfer
  • Brad Alan Van Pelt (1951-2009), American NFL football linebacker
  • Scott Van Pelt, American sportscaster
  • William Kaiser Van Pelt (1905-1996), American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Wisconsin, 1944, 1948 (alternate); U.S. Representative from Wisconsin 6th District, 1951-65; Defeated, 1964 3
  • William Van Pelt, American politician, Prohibition Candidate for Pennsylvania State Senate 11th District, 1912 3
  • Robert Van Pelt (b. 1897), American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Nebraska, 1940, 1944, 1948 3
  • Mexico Van Pelt, American politician, Member of West Virginia State Senate 8th District, 1887-90 3
  • Wouter van Pelt (b. 1968), former Dutch field hockey player
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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