The name Dracula was derived from Vlad's father, Vlad ll Dracul. For a son of a Dracul, would then be named Dracula (Surname) And the meaning of his name (Vlad ll Dracul) is Vlad the Dragon. Not vampire. He was not ever considered such, nor his son Vlad lll Tepes. In the Romanian language, Dracul also means devil, which sometimes resulted in incorrect translations for the name Dracula.
He (Vlad ll) was from the Royal House of Draculesti lineage. And was inducted into The Order of the Dragon in 1431. This is when Vlad ll received his surname of Dracul.
Bram Stoker (1847-1912) based his character Count Dracula (Published in 1897) upon Vlad lll Tepes, because of Vlad's appetite for blood lust filled murders and mayhem.