# Van Rensselaer (surname)

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" 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 (1850–1933), tennis player
* Charles W. van Rensselaer (1823–1857), first officer on the SS Central America
* Cortlandt Van Rensselaer (1808–1860), Presbyterian clergyman.
* Hendrick van Rensselaer (1667–1740)
* Henry Bell Van Rensselaer (1810–1864), US Representative from New York, and Union Army general
* Henry K. Van Rensselaer (1744–1816), General in the American Revolution
* Jacob R. Van Rensselaer (1767–1835)
* James van Rensselaer (military figure) (1747-1827)
* James Van Rensselaer (1783-March 12, 1847), founder of Rensselaer, Indiana
* Jan Baptist van Rensselaer (1629–1678), third patroon of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck
* Jeremiah Van Rensselaer (1738–1810), US Representative from New York, and Lt. Gov. of New York
* Jeremias van Rensselaer (1632–1674), Director of Rensselaerwyck
* Jeremias Van Rensselaer (sixth patroon) (1705–1745), sixth patroon of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck
* Johan van Rensselaer (1625–1663), second patroon of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck
* John Sanders Van Rensselaer (1792–1868), lawyer and soldier
* Kiliaen van Rensselaer (fourth patroon) (d. 1687), fourth patroon of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck
* Kiliaen Van Rensselaer (fifth patroon) (1663–1719), fifth patroon of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck
* Kiliaen van Rensselaer (merchant) (1586–1643), one of the founders and directors of the Dutch West India Company
* Kiliaen van Rensselaer (colonel) (1717–1781), Colonel in the American Revolution
* Killian K. Van Rensselaer (1763–1845), US Representative from New York
* Margarita "Peggy" Schuyler Van Rensselaer (1758–1801), daughter of Gen. Philip Schuyler and wife of Stephen Van Rensselaer III
* Mariana Alley Griswold Van Rensselaer (1851–1934), critic, author
* Martha Van Rensselaer (1864–1932), founding director of Cornell University’s New York State College of Home Economics (now the New York State College of Human Ecology)
* Rev. Dr. Maunsell Van Rensselaer (1819-1900), first president of Deveaux College
* Nicholas Van Rensselaer (military figure) (1754–1848), Colonel in the Revolutionary War
* Nicholas van Rensselaer (minister) (1636-1678), New York Reformed Church clergy
* Philip Kiliaen van Rensselaer (1747–1798), storekeeper, military storekeeper and Commissary for the Northern Department
* Philip S. Van Rensselaer (1767–1824), Mayor of Albany, New York
* Robert Van Rensselaer (1740–1802), Brigadier General in American Revolution, New York politician
* Solomon Van Rensselaer (1774–1852), US Representative from New York
* Stephen van Rensselaer I (1707–1747), seventh Patroon and fourth Lord of the Manor
* Stephen van Rensselaer II (1742–1769), eighth Patroon and fifth Lord of the Manor
* Stephen Van Rensselaer III (1764–1839), ninth Patroon and sixth Lord of the Manor
* Stephen Van Rensselaer IV (1789–1868), tenth and last Patroon and seventh and last Lord of the Manor