Show ContentsCenter History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Center

What does the name Center mean?

The distinguished German surname Center is of two possible origins. Firstly, the name may be derived from the personal name "Sanders," which is a diminutive of the popular Greek personal name "Alexander," meaning "protector." In this case, the surname would mean "son of Sanders." Alternatively, the name may be derived from the place name "Sand," the name of several towns in Germany. In this instance, the name would have been originally borne by someone hailing from one of these towns.

Early Origins of the Center family

The surname Center was first found in the region of the Rhineland, where it is believed to have first emerged. The earliest recorded bearer of the name was Heinrich Genannt (called) Sanders, who was a resident of Esslingen in 1283. The Center family was a major contributor during this early period, playing a major role in the development of the region's society.

Early History of the Center family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Center research. Another 74 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1475 and 1848 are included under the topic Early Center History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Center Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Sanders, Zanders, Centers, Senders, Sander, Zander, Sender, Center, Senters and many more.

Early Notables of the Center family

More information is included under the topic Early Center Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Center Ranking

In the United States, the name Center is the 7,769th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Migration of the Center family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Gabriel Senter, who came to Germantown, Pennsylvania in 1709; Catharina Sanders, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1796; Albert Sanders, who sailed from Bremen to New York in 1866.


Contemporary Notables of the name Center (post 1700) +

  • Katherine Sherar Pannill Center (b. 1972), contemporary American fiction author
  • Stella Stewart Center (b. 1878), American writer and educational executive
  • Edward K Center (b. 1903), well-known British painter


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/


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