Van Buren (surname)

This article is about the surname Van Buren. For other uses, see Van Buren.

The Dutch word "van" is equivalent to the English word "of" and the German word "von". Hence it is not usually capitalized in names. Buren is a city or estate in the Netherlands which was ruled by the Egmond family. Dutch nobles were commonly named after their possessions. Literally translated, the Dutch word "Buren" means "neighbours".

People

• Abigail Van Buren, pen name of the writer(s) of the "Dear Abby" column
• Andrew Van Buren, British performer who specialises in magic, large scale illusions and juggling
• Anita Van Buren, a fictional character on the television show Law & Order
• Danielle van Buren, IFAA World & European Field Archery Championship Silver Medalist
• Fred Van Buren, magical inventor & performer
• Jermaine Van Buren (born 1980), Major League Baseball player
• John Van Buren (US representative) (1799–1855), United States Representative from New York
• John D. Van Buren (1838–1918), an American civil engineer, naval engineer, lawyer, and politician
• John J. Van Buren (1915–1942), a United States Navy officer and pilot who received the Navy Cross and Distinguished Flying Cross
• Mabel Van Buren (1878–1947), American stage and screen actress
• Martin Van Buren (1782–1862), eighth President of the United States (1837–1841)
  • Hannah Van Buren (1783–1819), his wife
  • Abraham Van Buren (1807–1873), his eldest son
  • Angelica Van Buren (1818–1877), his daughter-in-law (performed the ceremonial duties of First Lady)
  • John Van Buren (1810–1866), his second son
• Paul Van Buren, Christian theologian and author of the Secular Meaning of the Gospel
• Raeburn van Buren (1891–1987) American magazine and comic strip illustrator
• Steve Van Buren (1920–2012), professional American football player
• William Holme Van Buren (1819–1883), American surgeon

Dutch Royal Family

The name (van) "Buren" appears in the history of the Dutch royal house, being the family name of Anna van Egmond en Buren, the first wife of William I of Orange. Borrowing from this heritage, the Dutch royals have used Count of Buren as a title or the surname "van Buren" in situations requiring anonymity.

• Queen Beatrix, the Countess of Buren (Dutch Gravin van Buren).
• Crown prince Willem-Alexander uses the alias "Alexander van Buren" or a variant for anonymity purposes. For example during his University application he used "Alex van Buren". He also registered for the 1986 elfstedentocht as "W A van Buren".

Similarly pronounced

• Armin van Buuren, a Dutch trance producer and DJ
• van Beuren, another Dutch spelling for a surname that is pronounced more or less identically to van Buren