# Why a van?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-van/69867>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 23, 2001, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-van/69867 "2001-06-23T06:49:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![riserius1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@riserius1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/riserius1)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2001, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-van/69867/1 "2001-06-23T06:49:16Z")

</div>

Does anyone happen to know why a van is CALLED a van? Is it short for Vandermeer or some other Surname?

Inquiring minds wanna know.

Chris W

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Louie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@Louie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Louie)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2001, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-van/69867/2 "2001-06-23T07:17:18Z")

</div>

WAG : Van is short for **caravan**

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2001, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-van/69867/3 "2001-06-23T07:25:51Z")

</div>

There has to be a Marx Brothers joke in here somewhere, I know it.

Tris

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2001, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-van/69867/4 "2001-06-23T07:39:59Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Louie \*  
> \*\*WAG : Van is short for **caravan** \*\*

Yep, that’s it. Short for caravan. See m-w.  
Does anyone remember when the Plymouth minivan, the second of it’s type, was advertized as the Car-a-van? As in van that drives like a car. That’s how they marketed it. Not my fault.  
Peace,  
mangeorge