Van Leer is a surname of Dutch and German origin. It is a variant of the ancient surname Valär. Notable people with this surname include:Florence Van Leer Earle Coates (1850–1927), American poet, women's rights advocate Antoinette Van Leer Polk (1847–1919), American Southern belle and Baroness de Charette Maryly Van Leer Peck (1930–2011), American academic and president of Polk Community College, Winter Haven, Florida Carlos Clark Van Leer (1865–1953), military officer Anthony Wayne Van Leer (1783–1864), iron works owner in Tennessee Benjamin van Leer, Dutch footballer Bernardhus Van Leer (1687–1790), was one of the first doctors in New York Blake Ragsdale Van Leer (1893–1956), president of Georgia Institute of Technology Blake Wayne Van Leer (1926–1997), Captain and Commander in the U.S. Navy. Bram van Leer, Dutch-American professor emeritus of aerospace engineering at the University of Michigan Carlos Clark Van Leer (1865–1953), Captain in the U.S. Army and Chief of Personnel in U.S. Department of Treasury David Van Leer (1949–2013), American educator, author and cultural studies researcher Ella Lillian Wall Van Leer (1892–1986), American artist, architect and women's rights activist Isaac Van Leer (1772–1821), iron works owner in Pennsylvania Jean Van Leer (1919–2003), Belgian field hockey player John P. Van Leer (1825–1862), American military officer Lia van Leer (1924–2015), film archive pioneer in Israel Samuel Van Leer (1747–1825), ironmaster and captain in the American Revolutionary War Thijs van Leer, Dutch musician