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"..
Other known spelling variations: Sander, Saunder, Saunders, Zander, Sender, Zender and more,Theories of the Origins of the Name Sanders at sanders.webSanders at the Meertens Institute database of surnames in the Netherlands. 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.
Notable persons and fictional characters with the surname include:
A 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 (actor) (born 1966), American pornographic actor Alex Sanders (politician), American judge and politician Alex Sanders (Wiccan) (1926–1988), British Wiccan priest 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 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, American women's basketball player and executive April Sanders, Canadian politician Archie D. Sanders (1857–1941), American politician Arthur Sanders (cricketer) (1900–1920), English cricketer Arthur Sanders (footballer) (1901–1983), English footballer Arthur Sanders (RAF officer) (1898–1974), Royal Air Force air marshal
B Barefoot Sanders (1925–2008), American judge Barry Sanders (born 1968), American National Football League running back Barry Sanders (professor) (born 1938), American sociolinguist 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, 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 1981), American football safety Bob Sanders (American football coach) (born 1953), American football coach Brandon Sanders (born 1973), American football player Braylon Sanders (born 1999), American football player Bryan Sanders (born 1970), American ski jumper
C C. J. Sanders (born 1996), American actor, son of the wide receiver Chris Sanders Cam Sanders (born 1996), American baseball player 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 (actor) (born 1979), American actor, comedian, and writer Cheryl J. Sanders, African-American womanist scholar and ethicist Chris Sanders (director) (born 1962), American film animator and voice actor Chris Sanders (quarterback) (born 1977), American football quarterback Chris Sanders (running back) (born 1973), American football running back Chris Sanders (wide receiver) (born 1972), American football wide receiver Christoph Sanders (born 1968), American actor Corey Sanders (born 1975), American boxer Corrie Sanders (1966–2012), South African boxer
D Dale Sanders (born 1953), British biochemist and plant biologist Dale Sanders (railroad photographer) (born 1957), American railroad photographer Daniel Sanders (disambiguation), several people 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 (disambiguation), several people Deac Sanders (born 1950), American football player Dee Sanders (1921–2007), American baseball pitcher Deion Sanders (born 1967), American football coach, former football and baseball 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 E. P. Sanders (1937–2022), American New Testament scholar Ecstasia Sanders (born 1985), Canadian film actress Edward or Ed Sanders (disambiguation), several people Edmundo Sanders (1924–1991), Argentine broadcaster and actor Eleanor Butler Sanders (1849–1905), American suffragist and socialite Emmanuel Sanders (born 1987), American football player Eric Sanders (disambiguation), several people Erin Sanders (born 1991), American actress Ethan Sanders (born 2005), Australian rugby league footballer 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 Felicia Sanders (1922–1975), American pop singer Francesca Sanders, American playwright Frank Sanders (American football) (born 1973), American football player Frank Sanders (ice hockey) (1949–2012), American ice hockey player Frank P. Sanders (1919–1997), American Under Secretary of the Navy Fyodor Ivanovich Sanders (1755–1836), Russian general
G Gene Sanders (born 1956), American football player George Sanders (disambiguation), several people George Nicholas Sanders (1812–1873), American official suspected in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln Gillian Sanders (born 1981), South African triathlete
H Harland Sanders (1890–1980), better known as Colonel Sanders, founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken Helena Sanders (1911–1997), Cornish humanitarian, cultural activist, politician and, poet Helma Sanders-Brahms (1940–2014), née Sanders, German film director Henry Sanders (disambiguation) 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 Ian Sanders (born 1961), British cricketer
J Jackie Wolcott, American diplomat James Sanders (disambiguation) 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 Jesse Sanders (born 1989), American basketball player Jesse Sanders (1943–2020), rhythm guitarist and founding member of The Tornadoes Jessie Sanders (1893–1985), American politician and ranch operator Jerry Sanders (businessman) (born 1936), American businessman, co-founder of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) Jerry Sanders (politician) (born 1950), American politician, chief of police and mayor of San Diego Jim Sanders (rugby league) (1900–1981), New Zealand rugby player Jimmy Sanders (baseball) (1902–1975), American minor league baseball player and manager Jimmy Sanders (footballer) (1920–2003), English footballer Jock Sanders (born 1988), Canadian gridiron football player Joe Sanders (1896–1965), American jazz pianist, singer, and bandleader John Sanders (disambiguation) 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, English motorcyclist
K Kaj Sanders (born 2006), American football player Karl Sanders (born 1964), American musician and founding member of the band Nile Kelsey Sanders (born 1990), American actress Ken Sanders (American football) (born 1950), American football player Ken Sanders (baseball) (born 1941), American baseball pitcher Ken Sanders (book dealer) (born 1951), American book dealer Kenny Sanders (born c. 1967), 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 Kobe Sanders (born 2002), American basketball player Kyle Sanders, American heavy metal bassist/composer
L Larry Sanders (basketball) (born 1988), American basketball player Larry Sanders (politician) (born 1935), British politician Larry J. Sanders (born 1954), better known as L.V., American R&B singer 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), American computer scientist, CEO and co-founder of the National Center for Women & Information Technology
M 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 (born 1981), better known by the stage name M. Shadows, American heavy metal singer Maxine Sanders (born 1946), prominent British member of the Wiccan faith and 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