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Van Dam Family History

Van Dam Surname Meaning

Dutch and Flemish: habitational name for someone from any of numerous places called Dam (for example Dam short for Appingedam in the province of Groningen and Dam in Gennep Limburg both in the Netherlands) or Ten Damme (for example in Overijssel in the Netherlands).

Alternatively, the name can also originate from other places in the Netherlands and Belgium that are named for a dam ‘dike’.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Van Dam family from?

You can see how Van Dam families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Van Dam family name was found in the USA, and the UK between 1880 and 1920. The most Van Dam families were found in USA in 1880. In 1880 there were 58 Van Dam families living in Michigan. This was about 48% of all the recorded Van Dam's in USA. Michigan had the highest population of Van Dam families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Van Dam surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What Van Dam family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 5,000 census records available for the last name Van Dam. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Van Dam census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

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Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Van Dam. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

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Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Van Dam. For the veterans among your Van Dam ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Van Dam lifespan?

Between 1965 and 2004, in the United States, Van Dam life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1974, and highest in 1966. The average life expectancy for Van Dam in 1965 was 72, and 69 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Van Dam

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Van Dam ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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