Where Does The Surname Sanders Come From?

Question

Where Does The Surname Sanders Come From?

2 Answers

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Answer 1

Sanders is derived from the name Sander, which was often used in the Middle Ages as a form of the name Alexander.

Alexander is a Latin version of the Greek Alexandros, from alexein, "defend" and aner, "man" or "warrior." So Alexander means something like "defending warrior." The name has been popular in different languages for hundreds of years, mainly because of the fame of the Macedonian king Alexander the Great in the 3rd century BC.

From the medieval short form Sander, the patronymics Sanders and Sanderson evolved (an additional name, older than a surname, indicating who your father was.) Like many patronymics it gradually developed into a surname.

Other common variations of Alexander include Alex, Alec, Sandy and (less well known now) Lex. The feminine form is Alexandra.

Answer 2

The name Sanders is not a first name. In fact, it is a common last name. The last name Sanders is commonly used in English. In the United States of America, the last name Sanders is ranked 75th out of a total of 88, 799 last names. In other words, the last name Sanders is the 75th last name in terms of popularity in the United States of America.

In England and Wales, the last name Sanders is ranked 312th out of a total of 500 last names. In other words, the last name Sanders is the 312th last name in terms of popularity in England and Wales.

The last name Sanders is a Patronymic of the given name Sander. The name Sander is a medieval form of the common masculine first name Alexander. In fact, the last name Sanders is derived from same root as that from which the first name Alexander has been derived. The name Alexander means a helper of mankind.