Vance is a unique and distinctive name of English origin. It is derived from the surname Vance, which is an Anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic name "Mac an t-Saoir," meaning "son of the carpenter." The name has been used as both a first name and a last name throughout history.
The earliest known use of the name Vance as a given name can be traced back to the 17th century in England. It was initially more common among the nobility, but over time it became more widespread and is now found worldwide.
One notable figure with the name Vance was Sir John Vance (1826-1904), a British army officer who served in the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny. He was knighted for his bravery during the Second Anglo-Afghan War.
Today, Vance continues to be a popular choice for parents looking for an uncommon yet strong-sounding name for their sons. It has also gained some popularity as a girls' name in recent years, although it remains more commonly used for boys.
In summary, Vance is an English name with Scottish Gaelic origins, meaning "son of the carpenter." It has a rich history and has been used by notable figures throughout time. Despite its unique sound, Vance is now widely recognized and continues to be chosen as a first name by parents around the world.
Based on the provided statistics, the name Vance experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the years. In the late 19th century and early 20th century, there were periods of relative stability with birth numbers ranging from around 7 to 20 annually. However, from the 1940s onwards, there was a notable increase in the number of births named Vance, peaking at 555 in 1969. After this peak, the popularity of the name began to decline steadily, reaching a low of 135 births in 1998. Since then, the number of births with the name Vance has fluctuated between approximately 170 and 320 annually, with no significant trends indicating a consistent increase or decrease in popularity. In total, there were 26,583 births named Vance from 1880 to 2023.