The Anders surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 15,554 people carried this name — #2,343 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 19,000 people counted. That is up 1% from 15,375 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Anders surname

Borrowed from Danish, Icelandic, Norwegian, and Swedish Anders.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Anders» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a baptismal name, from a given name: ‘the son of Andrew’.

An early record he cites: Rogerus Andreweson, 1379 — Poll Tax, West Riding of Yorkshire.

His entry covers Anderson and Anders.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 52 · public domain.

In Poland’s population register

785 people named Anders have a registered home in Poland.

Of the 1,131 in Poland’s national register, these are the ones with a permanent address on file. They live in 15 of Poland’s 16 voivodeships, most of all in Pomeranian.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they live today

Pomeranian 143
Greater Poland 142
Silesian 111
Masovian 101
West Pomeranian 65
Lower Silesian 62
Kuyavian-Pomeranian 47
Łódź 37

PESEL register, Ministry of Digital Affairs of Poland (dane.gov.pl) — CC0 · living people by voivodeship of permanent residence, 20 January 2026.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

157 people named Anders live in Switzerland.

They live in 13 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Zurich.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they live today

Zurich 73
Bern 14
Vaud 10
Fribourg 8
Lucerne 8
Thurgau 8
Schaffhausen 8
Geneva 7

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 141 people named Anders live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Buenos Aires Province.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Buenos Aires Province 42
Misiones 36
Córdoba 29
Salta 21
City of Buenos Aires 13

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 48 people named Anders.

23 of them were born outside France. Those born in France came from 5 départements, most often Vosges.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 23
Vosges 12
Moselle 5
Haut-Rhin 4
Haute-Garonne 2
Bas-Rhin 2

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In the Nordic population registers

49 people named Anders is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 49

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

In the first U.S. census, 1790

20 families named Anders, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 111 people lived in those households, 5.6 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 2 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

North Carolina 8
Maryland 5
Pennsylvania 3
New York 2
Virginia 1
South Carolina 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 227 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Anders in American newspapers,
1917–1921.

Newspaper page from The Bismarck Tribune carrying the name Anders
The Bismarck Tribune 1921-07-20
Newspaper page from The Fargo Forum And Daily Republican carrying the name Anders
The Fargo Forum And Daily Republican 1917-02-28
Newspaper page from The Fargo Forum And Daily Republican carrying the name Anders
The Fargo Forum And Daily Republican 1918-09-27

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain.

In print

Anders in Australian newspapers,
1830s–1990s.

10,442 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Anders. The most, 2,271, date from the 1930s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in South Australia, at 3.9 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

South Australia 4,519
Queensland 2,183
Victoria 2,131
New South Wales 996
Western Australia 319
Tasmania 206
ACT (Canberra) 48
Northern Territory 6

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Anders.

Who carried it

People named Anders,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Gustav Anders d. 1917 · soldier
  • Federico Anders d. 1800 · painter
  • Matthäus Anders d. 1836
  • Christina Anders 1647–1649
  • Hendrik Anders 1657–1714 · composer
  • Karl Samuel Anders 1768–1835 · teacher

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Anders,
in the records of 10 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,461 records

1,461 records of the Anders name in the United States
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 564
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 469
  • Other U.S. records 428
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Elbert D. Anders

    Born 1921 in Tennessee. Enlisted 1942 at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia; driver from Washington County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1993, buried at Mountain Home National Cemetery, Tennessee.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Arthur J. Anders

    Born 1915 in New York. Enlisted 1943 at New York City; bartender from Queens County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1979, buried at Calverton National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Julius Anders

    Arrived at New York in 1904 aboard the Pennsylvania from Hamburg, aged 35; laborer. From Ober Tannwald, Austria; bound for Trenton.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 1,461 records for Anders in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Germany2,053 records

2,053 records of the Anders name in Germany
  • Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919 2,049
  • German emigration and citizenship files 2
  • German estate files 2
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Karl Anders

    Born 1896; from Charlottenburg. Reported missing in the Prussian casualty list of 4 December 1918 (Guard Reserve Regiment No. 1).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  2. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record Johann Georg Anders

    Left Weil for North America in 1852.

    Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek / Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg (CC0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Wilhelmine Anders

    Estate settled in 1910.

    Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek / Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0)

Showing 3 of 2,053 records for Anders in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0) · Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0); Emigration file, Gündlingen, 1883, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Staatsarchiv Freiburg B 694/1 Nr. 1389 (CC BY 4.0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Netherlands939 records

939 records of the Anders name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 538
  • Dutch population registers 316
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 85
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Gertrud Elfriede Marie Anders

    Married in 1930 in Amsterdam; dressmaker. Died 1965 in Rotterdam, aged 58.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Elisabeth Christina Anders

    Married in 1865 in 's-Gravenhage; domestic servant. Died 1913 in 's-Gravenhage, aged 73.

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Sietske Anders

    Married in 1836 in Leeuwarden; domestic servant. Died 1869 in Leeuwarden, aged 58.

    Open Archives, AlleFriezen (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 939 records for Anders in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Australia202 records

202 records of the Anders name in Australia
  • Tasmanian Names Index 70
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 49
  • Other Australian records 83
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record James Anders

    Died 1891 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 65. Will registered in Tasmania in 1891.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Eliza Anders

    Died 1917 in McRobies Gully, Hobart, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1917.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record M. Hy Anders

    Arrived in Victoria in 1885 aboard the Austral, aged 40; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 202 records for Anders in Australia.

Counts: Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Norway18 records

18 records of the Anders name in Norway Norway's 1910 census
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Karl Anders

    Census of 1910: Ørebæk, Vestby; farm labourer, born 1854 in Trygstad.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Kristian Anders

    Census of 1910: Teatergaten, Bergen; railway worker, born 1887 in Froland pr Arendal.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)

Showing 2 of 18 records for Anders in Norway.

Counts: Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

France16 records

16 records of the Anders name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Gilbert Emile Joseph Anders

    Born 1928 in Housseras (Vosges); died 1995 in Saint-Dizier (Haute-Marne).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Marie Anders

    Born 1912 in Schneckenbusch (Moselle); died 1997 in Housseras (Vosges).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 16 records for Anders in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Canada13 records

13 records of the Anders name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 5
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 3
  • Other Canadian records 5
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Robert Jason Anders

    Buried in 1985 at St. Mary's Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 18.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record John Anders

    Died 1918; buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver, British Columbia.

    City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver.

Showing 2 of 13 records for Anders in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

New Zealand3 records

3 records of the Anders name in New Zealand Marlborough District cemetery records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record George Frederick Anders

    Died 1993, aged 76; buried at Fairhall Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 1 of 3 records for Anders in New Zealand.

Counts: Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

United Kingdom2 records

2 records of the Anders name in the United Kingdom War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record T. Anders

    King's (Live-Rpool Regiment). Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 1 of 2 records for Anders in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Switzerland1 record

1 record of the Anders name in Switzerland Zürich marriage records, 16th–18th centuries
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Anna Barbara Anders

    Married in 1790 in Egg, canton of Zürich; of Arbon Tg.

    Staatsarchiv des Kantons Zürich, Zürcher Ehedaten (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Staatsarchiv des Kantons Zürich, Zürcher Ehedaten (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Anders.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Anders is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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