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), prominent iron works owner in Tennessee
• Benjamin van Leer (born 1992), Dutch professional 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 (fl. 1970–2012), 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) prominent iron works owner in Pennsylvania
• Jean Van Leer (1919-2003), Belgian field hockey player who competed in the Olympics
• John P. Van Leer (1825-1862), United States military officer
• Lia van Leer (1924–2015), film archive pioneer in Israel
• Robert Van Leer, an American arts executive
• Samuel Van Leer, (1747–1825) ironmaster and captain in the American Revolutionary War
• Thijs van Leer (born 1948), Dutch musician

Given name

• VanLeer Polk (1856-1907), Tennessee State Senator and diplomat