Vanderbilt family
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| Ethnicity | Dutch American |
|---|---|
| Current region | United States East Coast |
| Earlier spellings | Van der Bilt, van Derbilt |
| Place of origin | De Bilt, Netherlands |
| Members |
Cornelius Vanderbilt William Henry Vanderbilt Anderson Cooper John Hammond |
| Traditions |
Moravian Church Episcopalians |
| Estate | Vanderbilt houses |
| Name origin and meaning | Van der Bilt ("from de Bilt") |
The Vanderbilt family is an American family of Dutch origin that was prominent during the Gilded Age. Their success began with the shipping and railroad empires of Cornelius Vanderbilt, and the family expanded into various other areas of industry and philanthropy. Cornelius Vanderbilt's descendants went on to build grand mansions on Fifth Avenue in New York City, luxurious "summer cottages" in Newport, Rhode Island, the palatial Biltmore House in Asheville, North Carolina, and various other opulent homes.
The Vanderbilts were once the wealthiest family in America. Cornelius Vanderbilt was the richest American in history until his death in 1877. After that, his son William acquired his father's fortune, and was the richest American until his death in 1885. The Vanderbilts' prominence lasted until the mid-20th century, when the family's 10 great Fifth Avenue mansions were torn down, and most other Vanderbilt houses were sold or turned into museums in what has been referred to as the "Fall of the House of Vanderbilt".
Branches of the family are found on the United States East Coast. Contemporary descendants include fashion designer Gloria Vanderbilt, her youngest son, journalist Anderson Cooper, musician John P. Hammond, screenwriter James Vanderbilt and actor Timothy Olyphant.
Jan Janszoon and his son Anthony Janszoon van Salee were among the ancestors of the Vanderbilts. They were among the earliest arrivals to 17th century New Amsterdam. In a number of documents dating back to this period, Jan's son is described as "mulatto", as his mother was from Sale, Morocco.
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