Sanders (surname)
Sanders is a patronymic name, meaning "son of Alexander". The name derives from the abbreviation xander, with Alexander deriving from the Greek "Ἀλέξανδρος" (Aléxandros), meaning "Defender of the people".[1]
Other known spelling variations: Sander, Saunder, Saunders, Zander, Sender, Zender and more,[2][3] although different variants may have other origins (such as places like Zandt or Senden). The surname originates from Germany, The Netherlands, England, Scotland, and Ireland in most cases.[citation needed]
Notable persons with that surname include:
A
[edit]- Aaron Sanders (born 1996), American actor
- Ace Sanders (born 1991), American football player
- Adam Sanders (born 1988), American singer and songwriter
- Addison Hiatt Sanders (1823–1912), American Civil War brevet brigadier general and Secretary of the Montana Territory
- Adrian Sanders (born 1959), British politician
- Ajai Sanders (born 1974), American actress and stand-up comedian
- Al Sanders (1941–1995), American news broadcaster
- Al Sanders (basketball) (1950–1994), American basketball player
- Albert Sanders (1889–1957), Canadian politician in Alberta
- Alex Sanders (1926–1988), Wiccan priest
- Alex Sanders, American judge and politician
- Alex Sanders (born 1966), American pornographic actor
- Ali Sanders (born 1970), British physician and rower
- Alvin Sanders (born 1952), American actor
- Amy Sanders (born 1983), American basketball player
- Andries Sanders (born 1933), Dutch psychologist
- Angelia Bibbs-Sanders (born 1961), American executive in the entertainment business
- Ann Sanders (born 1960), Australian television journalist and news presenter
- Anne Sanders (born 1931), English cricketer
- Annemarie Sanders (born 1958), Dutch equestrian
- Anthony Sanders (born 1974), American baseball player
- Antoon Sanders (1586–1664), Flemish cleric and historian
- Antwoine Sanders (born 1977), American football player
- Anucha Browne Sanders, former women's basketball player
- April Sanders, Canadian politician
- Archie D. Sanders (1857–1941), American politician
- Art Sanders, American news anchor
- Arthur Sanders (1898–1974), Royal Air Force air marshal
- Arthur Sanders (1900–1920), English cricketer
- Arthur Sanders (1901–1983), English footballer
B
[edit]- Barefoot Sanders (1925–2008), American judge
- Barry Sanders (born 1938), American sociolinguist
- Barry Sanders (born 1968), American running back for the Detroit Lions
- Barry J. Sanders (born 1994), American football running back
- Ben Sanders (1865–1930), American baseball player
- Benita Sanders (born 1935), Canadian printmaker
- Bentlee Sanders (born 1998), American football player
- Bernie Sanders (born 1941), American politician, Democratic presidential candidate in 2016 and 2020
- Bev Sanders (born 1953), American snowboarder
- Beverly Sanders (born 1940), American actress, comedian and voice artist
- Bill Sanders (1930–2021), American political cartoonist
- Billy Sanders (1955–1985), Australian international speedway rider
- Billy C. Sanders (born 1936), U.S. Navy sailor and master chief petty officer of the navy
- Bob Sanders (born 1953), American football coach
- Bob Sanders (born 1981), American football safety
- Brandon Sanders (born 1973), American football player
- Braylon Sanders (born 1999), American football player
- Bryan Sanders (born 1970), American ski jumper
C
[edit]- C. J. Sanders (born 1996), American actor, son of the wide receiver Chris Sanders
- Cameron Sanders (born 1958), American journalist
- Candice Sanders (born 1977), American beauty pageant contestant
- Carl Sanders (1925–2014), American politician
- Carl Julian Sanders (1912–2007), American Methodist bishop
- Carol Sanders (1932–2012), American bridge player
- Charlie Sanders (1946–2015), American football player
- Charlie Sanders (born 1979), American actor, comedian, and writer
- Cheryl J. Sanders, African-American womanist scholar and ethicist
- Chris Sanders (born 1962), American film animator and voice actor
- Chris Sanders (born 1972), American football wide receiver
- Chris Sanders (born 1973), American football running back
- Chris Sanders (born 1977), American football quarterback
- Christoph Sanders (born 1968), American actor
- Colonel Sanders (1890–1980), pseudonym of Harland David Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken
- Corey Sanders (born 1975), American boxer
- Corrie Sanders (1966–2012), South African boxer
D
[edit]- Dale Sanders (born 1953), British biochemist and plant biologist
- Dale Sanders (born 1957), American railroad photographer
- Daniel Sanders (1819–1897), German lexicographer
- Daniel Sanders (born 1986), American football player
- Daniel P. Sanders, American graph theorist
- Daniel J. Sanders (1847–1907), American clergyman, newspaper publisher, and educator
- Danny Sanders (born 1955), American football player
- Darius Sanders (born 1983), American football player
- Darnell Sanders (born 1979), American football player
- Daryl Sanders (born 1941), American football player
- David Sanders, American biologist and politician
- David Sanders (born 1979), American baseball pitcher
- David J. Sanders (born 1975), American politician
- Deac Sanders (born 1950), American football player
- Dee Sanders (1921–2007), American baseball pitcher
- Deion Sanders (born 1967), American baseball and football player
- Denis Sanders (1929–1987), American film director, screenwriter and producer
- Dirk Sanders (1934–2002), French dancer, actor and choreographer
- Donald Sanders (1930–1999), American lawyer, key figure in the Watergate investigation
- Dori Sanders (born 1939), African-American novelist
- Doug Sanders (1933–2020), American professional golfer
- Drew Sanders (born 2000), American football player
E
[edit]- E. P. Sanders (1937–2022), American New Testament scholar
- Ecstasia Sanders (born 1985), Canadian film actress
- Ed Sanders (1930–1954), American boxer
- Ed Sanders (born 1939), American poet, singer, social activist
- Ed Sanders (born 1968), English carpenter, actor and television host
- Ed Sanders (born 1993), British actor and singer
- Edmundo Sanders (1924–1991), Argentine broadcaster and actor
- Edward Sanders (1888–1943), Australian politician
- Eleanor Butler Sanders (1849 – 1905) was an American suffragist, and socialite.
- Emmanuel Sanders (born 1987), American football player
- Eric Sanders (disambiguation), multiple people
- Erin Sanders (born 1991), American actress
- Evan Sanders (born 1981), Indonesian actor
- Everett Sanders (1882–1950), American politician
- Ewoud Sanders (born 1958), Dutch historian of the Dutch language and journalist
F
[edit]- Felicia Sanders (1922–1975), American pop singer
- Francesca Sanders, American playwright
- Frank Sanders (1949–2012), American ice hockey player
- Frank Sanders (born 1973), American football player
- Frank P. Sanders (1919–1997), American under secretary of the navy
- Fyodor Ivanovich Sanders (1755–1836), Russian general
G
[edit]- Gene Sanders (born 1956), American football player
- George Sanders (1894–1950), English recipient of the Victoria Cross in World War I
- George Sanders (1906–1972), British actor
- George Harry Sanders, English-born American musician, father of the writer Ronald Sanders
- George Nicholas Sanders (1812–1873), American official suspected in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln
- Gillian Sanders (born 1981), South African triathlete
H
[edit]- Harland Sanders (better known as Colonel Sanders) (1890–1980), founder of KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken)
- Helena Sanders (1911–1997), Cornish humanitarian, cultural activist, politician and, poet
- Helma Sanders-Brahms (1940–2014), German film director
- Henry Sanders (born 1944), Alabama politician
- Henry G. Sanders (born 1942), African-American actor
- Henry Russell Sanders (1905–1958), American football player and coach
- Herbert Sanders (1878–1938), English-born Canadian organist and composer
- Horace T. Sanders (1820–1865), American politician and military leader
- Hugh Sanders (1911–1966), American actor
I
[edit]- Ian Sanders (born 1961), British cricketer
J
[edit]- Jackie Wolcott Sanders, American diplomat
- James Sanders (born ca. 1952), American basketball player for the Harlem Globetrotters
- James Sanders (born 1955), American architect and designer
- James Sanders, Jr. (born 1957), New York State politician
- James Sanders (born 1983), American football player
- James A. Sanders (1927–2020), American biblical scholar
- Jamie Sanders, American horse racing jockey and trainer
- Jan Sanders (1919–2000), Dutch painter
- Jan Sanders van Hemessen (c. 1500–c. 1566), Flemish painter
- Jared Y. Sanders, Sr. (1869–1944), American politician
- Jasmine Sanders, German-American model
- Jason Sanders (born 1995), American football player
- Jay O. Sanders (born 1953), American character actor
- Jeff Sanders (born 1966), American basketball player
- Jeremy Sanders, British chemist
- Jerry Sanders III (born 1936), American businessman, co-founder of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)
- Jerry Sanders (born 1950), American politician, chief of police and mayor of San Diego
- Jesse Sanders (born 1989), American basketball player
- Jim Sanders (1900–1981), New Zealand rugby player
- Jimmy Sanders (1902–1975), American minor league baseball player and manager
- Jimmy Sanders (1920–2003), English footballer
- Jock Sanders (born 1988), Canadian gridiron football player
- Joe Sanders (1896–1965), American jazz pianist, singer, and bandleader
- John Sanders (1768–1826), British architect
- John Sanders (1933–2003), English musician associated with the tradition of Anglican church music
- John Sanders (1945–2022), American baseball player and coach
- John Sanders, American sports broadcaster
- John C. C. Sanders (1840–1864), brigadier-general in the Confederate States Army
- John E. Sanders (born 1956), American evangelical Christian theologian
- John Oswald Sanders (1917–1992), New Zealand lawyer and author
- Johnny Sanders (1922–1990), American football executive
- Jon Sanders (born 1939), Australian yachtsman
- Joop Sanders (1921–2023), Dutch-born American abstract painter
- Joseph Sanders (1877–1960), German-American who helped invent the record player and helicopter
- Joseph G. Sanders (1828–1866), military officer in the American Civil War who fought for both the Union and the Confederacy
- Julia Sanders, motorcyclist
K
[edit]- Karl Sanders (born 1964), American musician and founding member of the band Nile
- Kelsey Sanders (born 1990), American actress
- Ken Sanders (baseball) (born 1941), American baseball pitchers
- Ken Sanders (born 1950), American football player
- Ken Sanders (born 1951), American book dealer
- Kenny Sanders (born ca. 1967), former college basketball player for George Mason University
- Kerry Sanders, American news correspondent
- Kevin Sanders (born 1964), British motorcyclist, world record holder for circumnavigation
- Kevin Sanders (born 1982), American musician of the Georgia band Cartel
- Keylee Sue Sanders, Miss Kansas Teen USA and Miss Teen USA 1995
- Kim Sanders (born 1968), American singer and songwriter
- Kyle Sanders American heavy metal bassist/composer.
L
[edit]- Larry Sanders (born 1935), British politician
- Larry Sanders (born 1954), American R&B singer better known as L.V.
- Larry Sanders (born 1988), American basketball player
- Lawrence Sanders (1920–1998), American novelist
- Lee Sanders, American composer
- Lewis Sanders (born 1978), American football player
- Lewis A. Sanders, American businessman
- Leyland Sanders (1927–2005), Australian sportsman
- Lisa Sanders (born 1956), American physician and journalist
- Lloyd Charles Sanders (1857–1927), English writer and biographer
- Loni Sanders (born 1958), American porn star and adult model
- Lonnie Sanders (born 1941), American football player
- Lou Sanders (born 1978), British comedian, writer and actress
- Louk Sanders (born 1950), Dutch tennis player
- Luc Sanders (born 1945), Belgian footballer
- Lucy Sanders (born 1954), CEO and co-founder of the NCWIT
M
[edit]- Marieke Sanders-ten Holte (born 1941), Dutch politician
- Marion K. Sanders (1905–1977), American journalist, editor, and author
- Mark Sanders (disambiguation)
- Marlene Sanders (1931–2015), American news broadcaster
- Marvin Sanders (born 1967), American football secondary coach
- Mary Sanders (born 1985), Canadian rhythmic gymnast
- Mary Jo Sanders (born 1974), American boxer
- Matthew Charles Sanders a.k.a. "M. Shadows" (born 1981), American heavy metal singer
- Maxine Sanders (born 1946), prominent member of the Wiccan faith and a co-founder of Alexandrian Wicca
- Melvin Sanders (born 1981), American basketball player
- Michael Sinclair Sanders (born 1939), American parapsychologist and amateur archeologist
- Mike Sanders (basketball) (born 1960), American professional basketball player
- Mike Sanders (Missouri politician) (born 1967), Missouri politician
- Mike Sanders (wrestler) (born 1969), American stand-up comedian and former professional wrestler
- Miles Sanders (born 1997), American football player
- Mo Sanders (born 1971), American roller skater
- Morgan Sanders (1934–2021), American painter, photographer, and children's book author
- Morgan G. Sanders (1878–1956), American politician
- Moses Sanders (1873–1941), English footballer
N
[edit]- Neill Sanders (1923–1992), British French horn player
- Newell Sanders (1850–1938), Chattanooga businessman and former senator from Tennessee
- Nicholas Sanders (c. 1530–1581), English Roman Catholic priest and historian
- Nick Sanders, the current Guinness World Record holder for fastest motorcycle circumnavigation
- Nick Sanders (musician), American jazz pianist and composer
- Nicola Sanders (born 1982), British sprinter and hurdler
- Noel Devine Sanders (born 1988), American college football running back
- Norm Sanders (born 1932), American-Australian politician, activist
O
[edit]- Otto Liman von Sanders (1855–1929), German general
P
[edit]- Pat Sanders, Canadian curler
- Patrick Sanders (born 1966) senior British Army officer
- Patrick Sanders (born 1985), American basketball player
- Paul Sanders (born 1967), Anglo-German historian and management scholar
- Peters Sanders (1911–2003), Indian Army officer
- Peter Sanders (born 1942), Welsh football and rugby player
- Pharoah Sanders (1940–2022), American jazz saxophonist
- Phoenix Sanders (born 1995), American baseball player
- Prentice E. Sanders (1937–2021), San Francisco chief of police
R
[edit]- Raheim Sanders (born 2002), American football player
- Rakim Sanders (born 1989), American basketball player
- Randy Sanders (born 1965), American football coach
- Ray Sanders (baseball) (1916–1983), American baseball player
- Ray Sanders (1935–2019), American country music artist
- Rebecca Sanders (born 1982), Australian field hockey player
- Reggie Sanders (1949–2002), American baseball first baseman
- Reggie Sanders (born 1967), American baseball right fielder
- Ric Sanders (born 1952), English violinist
- Richard Sanders (born 1940), American actor
- Richard Sanders (born 1949), American author and magazine editor
- Richard B. Sanders, Washington State Supreme Court justice
- Richard C. Sanders (1915–1976), American general officer of the United States Air Force
- Rick Sanders (1945–1972), Olympic silver gold medalist in amateur wrestling
- Ricky Sanders (born 1962), American football player
- Ricky Sanders (born 1966), American NASCAR racing driver
- Robert Sanders, 1st Baron Bayford (1867–1940), English politician
- Robert Levine Sanders (1906–1974), American composer and conductor
- Robin R. Sanders, American ambassador to several African nations
- Ronald Sanders (film editor), Canadian film editor and television producer
- Ronald Sanders (diplomat) (born 1948), Antiguan Barbudan academic, diplomat and journalist
- Ronald Sanders (writer) (1932–1991), American journalist and writer
- Roy Sanders (1892–1950), American National League baseball pitcher
- Roy Sanders (1894–1963), American League baseball pitcher
- Rupert Sanders (born 1971), British film director
- Ruth Sanders (1886–1988), British poet and author
- Ruth Sanders Cordes (1890–1988), American tennis player
S
[edit]- Sam Sanders (born 1938), American football coach and player
- Samuel Sanders (1937–1999), American classical pianist
- Sarah Huckabee Sanders, American politician and former press secretary, 47th Governor of Arkansas
- Satch Sanders (born 1938), American basketball player and coach
- Scott Sanders (born 1945), American novelist and essayist
- Scott Sanders (born 1950s), American navy admiral
- Scott Sanders (born 1957), American film, television, and theatrical producer
- Scott Sanders (born 1968), American screenwriter and film director
- Scott Sanders (born 1969), American baseball pitcher
- Seb Sanders (born 1971), English race jockey
- Shedeur Sanders (born 2002), American football player, son of Deion Sanders
- Shilo Sanders (born 2000), American football player, son of Deion Sanders
- Sol Sanders (1926–2022), American journalist
- Spencer Sanders (born 1999), American football player
- Steve Sanders (born 1978), English footballer
- Steve Sanders (born 1982), American football player
- Storm Sanders (born 1994), Australian tennis player
- Sue Sanders (born 1947), British LGBT rights activist
- Summer Sanders (born 1972), American swimmer, sports broadcaster, and actress
T
[edit]- Teee Sanders (born 1968), American volleyball player
- Terence Sanders (1901–1985), British rower
- Terry Sanders (born 1931), American film producer and director
- Thomas Sanders (1836–1874), Quebec merchant and politician
- Thomas Sanders (born 1962), American football player
- Thomas Sanders (entertainer), American actor and YouTuber
- Thomas E. Sanders, production designer
- Thomas Ernest "Satch" Sanders (born 1938), American basketball player and coach
- Thomas K. Sanders (died 2011), American bridge player
- Tim Sanders (writer) (born 1961), American author, public speaker, and former Yahoo! executive
- Tim Sanders (footballer) (born 1986), Dutch footballer
- Tim Sanders (politician) (born 1982), American politician in the Minnesota House of Representatives
- Timothy Greenfield-Sanders (born 1952), American portrait photographer
- T. J. Sanders (born 2003), American football player
- Tom Sanders, British mathematician
- Tommy Sanders (born 1954), American sportscaster
- Tony Sanders (1957–2015), American poet
- Troy Sanders (1901–1959), American composer and musician
- Troy Sanders (born 1973), American heavy metal bassist and singer
- Tyler Sanders (2004–2022), American actor
V
[edit]- Vince Sanders (born 1935), American broadcaster
- Viola B. Sanders (1921–2013), American deputy director of Women in the Navy
- Violet Sanders (1904–1983), British artist
W
[edit]- Wade Sanders, American attorney and sex offender
- War Sanders (1877–1962), American baseball pitcher
- Wilbur F. Sanders (1834–1905), American lawyer and Senator from Montana
- Wilfred Sanders (1910–1965), English cricketer
- Will Sanders (born 1965), Dutch French horn player
- William Sanders (1871–1941), British Labour Party politician
- William Sanders (born 1941), American businessman
- William Sanders (1942–2017), American science fiction writer
- William Sanders, American statistician
- William David Sanders (1951–1999), American teacher and victim of Columbine High School massacre
- William Edward Sanders (1883–1917), New Zealand Victoria Cross recipient in World War I
- William Joseph Sanders, American vertebrate paleontologist
- William P. Sanders (1833–1863), officer in the Union Army in the American Civil War
Z
[edit]- Zebrie Sanders (born 1989), American football player
Fictional characters
[edit]- Charles, Elizabeth, Jamie, Judith & Kate Sanders, characters from the soap opera One Life to Live
- Greg Sanders, fictional character featured on the US crime drama television show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, played by Eric Szmanda
- James Sanders, a.k.a. Speed Demon fictional character featured in the Marvel Universe.
- Larry Sanders, fictional character played by Garry Shandling on the American television series The Larry Sanders Show
- Micah Sanders, character portrayed by Noah Gray-Cabey on the NBC science fiction drama series Heroes
- Niki Sanders, character portrayed by Ali Larter in the television series Heroes
- Shiera Sanders, a.k.a. Hawkgirl fictional character featured in the DC Universe.
- Stephen Sanders, alias used by the Marvel Comics character Doctor Strange
- Steve Sanders, character in the American television drama Beverly Hills, 90210
- Terry Sanders Jr., character in the anime OVA Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team
- Sanders, a character in the Canadian animated reality television series Total Drama Presents: The Ridonculous Race. Her first name is yet to be revealed.
- Colonel Beauregard Sanders, from an episode of The Scooby-Doo Show
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Ἀλέξανδρος. Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; A Greek–English Lexicon at the Perseus Project.
- ^ Theories of the Origins of the Name Sanders at sanders.web
- ^ Sanders at the Meertens Institute database of surnames in the Netherlands.