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".

Other known spelling variations: Sander, Saunder, Saunders, Zander, Sender, Zender and more, 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 with that 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 (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

 * 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
 * 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

 * 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

 * 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

 * 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

 * 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

 * 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

 * 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

 * Ian Sanders (born 1961), British cricketer

J

 * 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

 * 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

L

 * 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, 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

 * 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

 * 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

 * Otto Liman von Sanders (1855–1929), German general

P

 * 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

 * 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

 * 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
 * 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

 * 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
 * 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

 * 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

 * 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

 * Zebrie Sanders (born 1989), American football player

Fictional characters

 * 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