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", meaning "Defender of the people".
Other known spelling variations: Sander, Saunder, Saunders, Zander, Sender, Zender and more, although different variants may have other origins. The surname originates from Germany, England, Scotland and Ireland in most cases.
Notable persons with that surname include:
A
- Ace Sanders, American football player
- Addison Hiatt Sanders, American Civil War brevet brigadier general and Secretary of the Montana Territory
- Adrian Sanders, British politician
- Ajai Sanders, American actress and stand-up comedian
- Al Sanders, American news broadcaster
- Albert Sanders, Canadian politician in Alberta
- Alex Sanders, Wiccan priest
- Alex Sanders, American judge and politician
- Alex Sanders, American pornographic actor
- Alvin Sanders, American actor
- Amy Sanders, American basketball player
- Angelia Bibbs-Sanders, American executive in the entertainment business
- Ann Sanders, Australian television journalist and news presenter
- Anne Sanders, English cricketer
- Annemarie Sanders, Dutch equestrian
- Anthony Sanders, American baseball player
- Antoon Sanders, Flemish cleric and historian
- Antwoine Sanders, American football player
- Anucha Browne Sanders, former women's basketball player
- April Sanders, Canadian politician
- Archie D. Sanders, American politician
- Art Sanders, American news anchor
- Arthur Sanders, Royal Air Force air marshal
- Arthur Sanders, English cricketer
- Arthur Sanders, English footballer
B
- Barefoot Sanders, American judge
- Barry Sanders, American sociolinguist
- Barry Sanders, American running back for the Detroit Lions
- Barry J. Sanders, American football running back
- Ben Sanders, American baseball player
- Benita Sanders, Canadian printmaker
- Bernie Sanders, American politician, Democratic presidential candidate in 2016 and 2020
- Bev Sanders, American snowboarder
- Beverly Sanders, American actress, comedian and voice artist
- Bill Sanders, American political cartoonist
- Billy Sanders, Australian international speedway rider
- Billy C. Sanders, U.S. Navy sailor and master chief petty officer of the navy
- Bob Sanders, American football coach
- Bob Sanders, American football safety
- Brandon Sanders, American football player
- Bryan Sanders, American ski jumper
C
- C. J. Sanders, American actor, son of the wide receiver Chris Sanders
- Cameron Sanders, American journalist
- Candice Sanders, American beauty pageant contestant
- Carl Sanders, American politician
- Carl Julian Sanders, American Methodist bishop
- Carol Sanders, American bridge player
- Charlie Sanders, American football player
- Charlie Sanders, American actor, comedian, and writer
- Chris Sanders, American film animator and voice actor
- Chris Sanders, American football wide receiver
- Chris Sanders, American football running back
- Chris Sanders, American football quarterback
- Christoph Sanders, American actor
- Colonel Sanders, pseudonym of Harland David Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken
- Corey Sanders, American boxer
- Corrie Sanders, South African boxer
D
- Dale Sanders, British biochemist and plant biologist
- Dale Sanders, American railroad photographer
- Daniel Sanders, German lexicographer
- Daniel Sanders, American football player
- Daniel P. Sanders, American graph theorist
- Danny Sanders, American football player
- Darius Sanders, American football player
- Darnell Sanders, American football player
- Daryl Sanders, American football player
- David Sanders, American biologist and politician
- David Sanders, American baseball pitcher
- David J. Sanders, American politician
- Deac Sanders, American football player
- Dee Sanders, American baseball pitcher
- Deion Sanders, American baseball and football player
- Denis Sanders, American film director, screenwriter and producer
- :fr:Dirk Sanders|Dirk Sanders, French dancer, actor and choreographer
- Donald Sanders, American lawyer, key figure in the Watergate investigation
- Dori Sanders, African-American novelist
- Doug Sanders, American professional golfer
E
- E. P. Sanders, American New Testament scholar
- Ecstasia Sanders, Canadian film actress
- Ed Sanders, American boxer
- Ed Sanders, American poet, singer, social activist
- Ed Sanders, English carpenter, actor and television host
- Ed Sanders, British actor and singer
- Edmundo Sanders, Argentine broadcaster and actor
- Edward Sanders, Australian politician
- Emmanuel Sanders, American football player
- Eric Sanders, multiple people
- Erin Sanders, American actress
- Evan Sanders, Indonesian actor
- Everett Sanders, American politician
- Ewoud Sanders, Dutch historian of the Dutch language and journalist
F
- Felicia Sanders, American pop singer
- Francesca Sanders, American playwright
- Frank Sanders, American ice hockey player
- Frank Sanders, American football player
- Frank P. Sanders, American under secretary of the navy
- :ru:Сандерс, Фёдор Иванович|Fyodor Ivanovich Sanders, Russian general
G
- Gene Sanders, American football player
- George Sanders, English recipient of the Victoria Cross in World War I
- George Sanders, British actor
- George Harry Sanders, English-born American musician, father of the writer Ronald Sanders
- George Nicholas Sanders, American official suspected in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln
- Gillian Sanders, South African triathlete
H
- Harland Sanders , founder of KFC
- Helena Sanders, Cornish humanitarian, cultural activist, politician and, poet
- Helma Sanders-Brahms, German film director
- Henry Sanders, Alabama politician
- Henry G. Sanders, African-American actor
- Henry Russell Sanders, American football player and coach
- Herbert Sanders, English-born Canadian organist and composer
- Horace T. Sanders, American politician and military leader
- Hugh Sanders, American actor
I
- Ian Sanders, British cricketer
J
- Jackie Wolcott Sanders, American diplomat
- James Sanders, American basketball player for the Harlem Globetrotters
- James Sanders, American architect and designer
- James Sanders, Jr., New York State politician
- James Sanders, American football player
- James A. Sanders, American biblical scholar
- Jamie Sanders, American horse racing jockey and trainer
- :fr:Jan Sanders|Jan Sanders, Dutch painter
- Jan Sanders van Hemessen, Flemish painter
- Jared Y. Sanders, Sr., American politician
- Jared Y. Sanders, Jr., American politician
- Jasmine Sanders, German-American model
- Jason Sanders, American football player
- Jay O. Sanders, American character actor
- Jeff Sanders, American basketball player
- Jeremy Sanders, British chemist
- Jerry Sanders III, American businessman, co-founder of Advanced Micro Devices
- Jerry Sanders, American politician, chief of police and Mayor of San Diego
- Jesse Sanders, American basketball player
- Jim Sanders, New Zealand rugby player
- Jimmy Sanders, American minor league baseball player and manager
- Jimmy Sanders, English footballer
- Jock Sanders, Canadian gridiron football player
- Joe Sanders, American jazz pianist, singer, and bandleader
- John Sanders, British architect
- John Sanders, English musician associated with the tradition of Anglican church music
- John Sanders, American baseball player and coach
- John Sanders, American sports broadcaster
- John C. C. Sanders, brigadier-general in the Confederate States Army
- John E. Sanders, American evangelical Christian theologian
- John Oswald Sanders, New Zealand lawyer and author
- Jon Sanders, Australian yachtsman
- Joop Sanders, Dutch-born American abstract painter
- Joseph Sanders, German-American who helped invent the record player and helicopter
- Joseph G. Sanders, military officer in the American Civil War who fought for both the Union and the Confederacy
- Julia Sanders, motorcyclist
K
- Karl Sanders, American musician and founding member of the band Nile
- Kelsey Sanders, American actress
- Ken Sanders, American baseball pitchers
- Ken Sanders, American football player
- Ken Sanders, American book dealer
- Kenny Sanders, former college basketball player for George Mason University
- Kerry Sanders, American news correspondent
- Kevin Sanders, British motorcyclist, world record holder for circumnavigation
- Kevin Sanders, American musician of the Georgia band Cartel
- Keylee Sue Sanders, Miss Kansas Teen USA and Miss Teen USA 1995
- Kim Sanders, American singer and songwriter
L
- Larry Sanders, British politician
- Larry Sanders, American R&B singer better known as L.V.
- Larry Sanders, American basketball player
- Lawrence Sanders, American novelist
- Lee Sanders, American composer
- Lewis Sanders, American football player
- Lewis A. Sanders, American businessman
- Leyland Sanders, Australian sportsman
- Lisa Sanders, American physician and journalist
- Lloyd Charles Sanders, English writer and biographer
- Loni Sanders, American porn star and adult model
- Lonnie Sanders, American football player
- Lou Sanders, British comedian, writer and actress
- Louk Sanders, Dutch tennis player
- Luc Sanders, Belgian footballer
- Lucy Sanders, CEO and co-founder of the NCWIT
M
- :de:Marieke Sanders-Ten Holte|Marieke Sanders-Ten Holte, Dutch politician
- Marion K. Sanders, American journalist, editor, and author
- Mark Sanders, South African cricketer
- Mark D. Sanders, American country music songwriter
- Marlene Sanders, American news broadcaster
- Marvin Sanders, American football secondary coach
- Mary Sanders, Canadian rhythmic gymnast
- Mary Jo Sanders, American boxer
- Matthew Charles Sanders a.k.a. "M. Shadows", American heavy metal singer
- Maxine Sanders, prominent member of the Wiccan faith and a co-founder of Alexandrian Wicca
- Melvin Sanders, American basketball player
- Michael Sinclair Sanders, American parapsychologist and amateur archeologist
- Mike Sanders , American professional basketball player
- Mike Sanders , Missouri politician
- Mike Sanders , American stand-up comedian and former professional wrestler
- Miles Sanders, American football player
- Mo Sanders, American roller skater
- Morgan Sanders, American painter, photographer, and children's book author
- Morgan G. Sanders, American politician
- Moses Sanders, English footballer
N
- Neill Sanders, British French horn player
- Newell Sanders, Chattanooga businessman and former senator from Tennessee
- Nicholas Sanders, English Roman Catholic priest and historian
- Nick Sanders, the current Guinness World Record holder for fastest motorcycle circumnavigation
- Nick Sanders, American jazz pianist and composer
- Nicola Sanders, British sprinter and hurdler
- Noel Devine Sanders, American college football running back
- Norm Sanders, American-Australian politician, activist
O
- Otto Liman von Sanders, German general
P
- Pat Sanders, Canadian curler
- Patrick Sanders, American basketball player
- Paul Sanders, Anglo-German historian and management scholar
- Peters Sanders, Indian Army officer
- Peter Sanders, Welsh football and rugby player
- Pharoah Sanders, American jazz saxophonist
- Prentice E. Sanders, San Francisco chief of police
R
- Rakim Sanders, American basketball player
- Randy Sanders, American football coach
- Ray Sanders, American baseball player
- Ray Sanders, American country music artist
- Rebecca Sanders, Australian field hockey player
- Reggie Sanders, American baseball first baseman
- Reggie Sanders, American baseball right fielder
- Ric Sanders, English violinist
- Richard Sanders, American actor
- Richard Sanders, American author and magazine editor
- Richard B. Sanders, Washington State Supreme Court justice
- Richard C. Sanders, American general officer of the United States Air Force
- Rick Sanders, Olympic silver gold medalist in amateur wrestling
- Ricky Sanders, American football player
- Ricky Sanders, American NASCAR racing driver
- Robert Sanders, 1st Baron Bayford, English politician
- :nl:Robert Levine Sanders|Robert Levine Sanders, American composer and conductor
- Robin R. Sanders, American ambassador to several African nations
- Ronald Sanders, Canadian film editor and television producer
- Ronald Sanders , Antiguan Barbudan academic, diplomat and journalist
- Ronald Sanders , American journalist and writer
- Roy Sanders, American National League baseball pitcher
- Roy Sanders, American League baseball pitcher
- Rupert Sanders, British film director
- Ruth Sanders, British poet and author
- Ruth Sanders Cordes, American tennis player
S
- Sam Sanders, American football coach and player
- Samuel Sanders, American classical pianist
- Sarah Huckabee Sanders, White House press secretary
- Satch Sanders, American basketball player and coach
- Scott Sanders, American novelist and essayist
- Scott Sanders, American navy admiral
- Scott Sanders, American film, television, and theatrical producer
- Scott Sanders, American screenwriter and film director
- Scott Sanders, American baseball pitcher
- Seb Sanders, English race jockey
- Sol Sanders, American journalist
- Steve Sanders, English footballer
- Steve Sanders, American football player
- Storm Sanders, Australian tennis player
- Sue Sanders, British LGBT rights activist
- Summer Sanders, American swimmer, sports broadcaster, and actress
T
- Teee Sanders, American volleyball player
- Terence Sanders, British rower
- Terry Sanders, American film producer and director
- Thomas Sanders, Quebec merchant and politician
- Thomas Sanders, American football player
- Thomas Sanders, American actor and YouTuber
- Thomas E. Sanders, production designer
- Thomas Ernest "Satch" Sanders, American basketball player and coach
- Thomas K. Sanders, American bridge player
- Tim Sanders , American author, public speaker, and former Yahoo! executive
- Tim Sanders , Dutch footballer
- Tim Sanders , American politician in the Minnesota House of Representatives
- Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, American portrait photographer
- Tom Sanders, British mathematician
- Tommy Sanders, American sportscaster
- Tony Sanders, American poet
- Troy Sanders, American composer and musician
- Troy Sanders, American heavy metal bassist and singer
V
- Vince Sanders, American broadcaster
- Viola B. Sanders, American deputy director of Women in the Navy
- Violet Sanders, British artist
W
- Wade Sanders, American attorney and sex offender
- War Sanders, American baseball pitcher
- Wayne Sanders, South African Christian songwriter
- Wilbur F. Sanders, American lawyer and Senator from Montana
- Wilfred Sanders, English cricketer
- Will Sanders, Dutch French horn player
- William Sanders, British Labour Party politician
- William Sanders, American businessman
- William Sanders, American science fiction writer
- William Sanders, American statistician
- William David Sanders, American teacher and victim of Columbine High School massacre
- William Edward Sanders, New Zealand Victoria Cross recipient in World War I
- William Joseph Sanders, American vertebrate paleontologist
- William P. Sanders, officer in the Union Army in the American Civil War
Z
- Zebrie Sanders, 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. Her first name is yet to be revealed.