Van Rensselaer is a toponymic surname of Dutch origin. It derives from the farmstead of De Renselaar, situated near Putten in Gelderland. Van is a preposition meaning "from" and is a common prefix in Dutch-language surnames. In Dutch, "van" following the first name is written with a lower-case "v"; in the United States it is usually capitalized, but individual usage should be followed.
List of people with the surname Van Rensselaer
- Alexander Van Rensselaer (1850âÂÂ1933), tennis player
- Charles W. Van Rensselaer (1823âÂÂ1857), first officer on the SS Central America
- Cortlandt Van Rensselaer (1808âÂÂ1860), Presbyterian clergyman.
- Hendrick van Rensselaer (1667âÂÂ1740)
- Henry Bell Van Rensselaer (1810âÂÂ1864), US Representative from New York, and Union Army general
- Henry K. Van Rensselaer (1744âÂÂ1816), General in the American Revolution
- Jacob R. Van Rensselaer (1767âÂÂ1835)
- James van Rensselaer (military figure) (1747âÂÂ1827)
- James Van Rensselaer (1783-March 12, 1847), founder of Rensselaer, Indiana
- Jan Baptist van Rensselaer (1629âÂÂ1678), third patroon of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck
- Jeremiah Van Rensselaer (1738âÂÂ1810), US Representative from New York, and Lt. Gov. of New York
- Jeremias van Rensselaer (1632âÂÂ1674), Director of Rensselaerwyck
- Jeremias Van Rensselaer (sixth patroon) (1705âÂÂ1745), sixth patroon of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck
- Johan van Rensselaer (1625âÂÂ1663), second patroon of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck
- John Sanders Van Rensselaer (1792âÂÂ1868), lawyer and soldier
- Kiliaen van Rensselaer (fourth patroon) (d. 1687), fourth patroon of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck
- Kiliaen Van Rensselaer (fifth patroon) (1663âÂÂ1719), fifth patroon of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck
- Kiliaen van Rensselaer (merchant) (1586âÂÂ1643), one of the founders and directors of the Dutch West India Company
- Kiliaen van Rensselaer (colonel) (1717âÂÂ1781), Colonel in the American Revolution
- Killian K. Van Rensselaer (1763âÂÂ1845), US Representative from New York
- Margarita "Peggy" Schuyler Van Rensselaer (1758âÂÂ1801), daughter of Gen. Philip Schuyler and wife of Stephen Van Rensselaer III
- Mariana Alley Griswold Van Rensselaer (1851âÂÂ1934), critic, author
- Martha Van Rensselaer (1864âÂÂ1932), founding director of Cornell UniversityâÂÂs New York State College of Home Economics (now the New York State College of Human Ecology)
- Rev. Dr. Maunsell Van Rensselaer (1819âÂÂ1900), first president of Deveaux College
- Nicholas Van Rensselaer (military figure) (1754âÂÂ1848), Colonel in the Revolutionary War
- Nicholas van Rensselaer (minister) (1636âÂÂ1678), New York Reformed Church clergy
- Philip Kiliaen van Rensselaer (1747âÂÂ1798), storekeeper, military storekeeper and Commissary for the Northern Department
- Philip S. Van Rensselaer (1767âÂÂ1824), Mayor of Albany, New York
- Robert Van Rensselaer (1740âÂÂ1802), Brigadier General in American Revolution, New York politician
- Solomon Van Rensselaer (1774âÂÂ1852), US Representative from New York
- Stephen van Rensselaer I (1707âÂÂ1747), seventh Patroon and fourth Lord of the Manor
- Stephen van Rensselaer II (1742âÂÂ1769), eighth Patroon and fifth Lord of the Manor
- Stephen Van Rensselaer III (1764âÂÂ1839), ninth Patroon and sixth Lord of the Manor
- Stephen Van Rensselaer IV (1789âÂÂ1868), tenth and last Patroon and seventh and last Lord of the Manor
See also
References