Surname Vale - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'V'
Vale: What does the surname Vale mean?
The surname Vale has several potential origins and meanings. In English, it could be derived from "Vale", referring to a person who lived in or near a valley. It could be geographical, belonging to someone dwelling in a fertile, flat area between hills or mountains. The term "vale" is an old English term that describes such landscapes.
The surname could also have originated from the Latin word "Vale", meaning "be well" or "farewell", which was commonly used in letter closings.
In Portuguese and Spanish, Vale could be a habitational name for someone from any of the numerous places named Vale.
Also, in Wales, Vale could have been derived from 'Fale', meaning 'stake' or ‘pole’ in Cornish/ Breton languages, typically given to a boundary keeper.
Therefore, the exact interpretation can depend on the family's linguistic, cultural, and regional history and context. As with many surnames, the specific meaning may not be known, as the surname could have various interpretations across different cultures.
Order DNA origin analysisVale: Where does the name Vale come from?
The last name Vale is a fairly common last name around the world. It is an English and Spanish surname and can be found in various countries including the United States, Brazil, Mexico, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Argentina, Portugal, and Spain.
In the United States, the last name Vale is most commonly found in the East and South East regions of the country. The biggest concentration is in North Carolina, followed by Alabama, Virginia, Texas, Georgia, Louisiana, and Florida. In the United Kingdom, the Vale family is scattered throughout the country, with the largest numbers being found in England and Wales.
In both countries, Vale is a fairly common surname with roughly 0.3% of the population in the United States and 0.2% of the population in the UK possessing this surname. Additionally, it is sometimes written differently (since two different languages are involved) such as Valle, Val, Valla, and Vali.
The meaning of Vale is varied and can include derivatives of ‘valley’, ‘ford’, ‘strong or powerful’, or ‘health and well being’ and is thought to be of Spanish origin. Some possible meanings may come from the Latin ‘Vallis’ which translates to ‘valley’ or from the Old English ‘vàl’ meaning ‘strong or powerful’. Furthermore, the Italian word ‘Val le’ translates to ‘well-being’ and can be used in combination with a preposition to form the Kingdom of Valle - which translates to ‘land of well-being’.
Variations of the surname Vale
The Vale surname has many variants, spellings, and surnames with the same origin. Variants of the name Vale include Veale, Vail, Valle, Vayle, and Veal. All of these variants are derived from 'de Valle', which originated in Norman French.
Different spellings of the surname Vale include Veale, Vail, Vallee, Valle, Vayle, Vailes, Vald, Val, Veall, Vealle, Vallay, Valey, Vealey, Vealles, Vales, and Valais. Most of the names have been Anglicized, removing the 'de' from the beginning and replacing 'e' with 'ae' and vice versa.
Surnames with the same origin as Vale are Valla, Vall, Valley, Vallee, Valen, Valens, Valenz, Vann, Vane, Vanner, Vannes, Vanos, Varius, Varr, and Varroux. Some of these surnames have further variations, as they have been adopted in various languages, such as Welsh and German.
The surname Vale brings with it a sense of stability and security, due to its long history and broad reach. Its variants, spellings, and surnames all have a similarly significant past, making it a worthy name with a timeless presence.
Famous people with the name Vale
- Michael Vale: British actor, best known for playing the “time to make the doughnuts” character in Dunkin’ Donuts commercials.
- Peter Vale: British author, radio presenter, and cheese expert who has written several books about cheese-making.
- John Vale: Australian Olympic track cyclist who competed in the 1920s.
- Sophie Vale: French singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has released four solo albums and several collaborations.
- Luke Vale: Canadian-born ice hockey player who currently plays for the Ontario Hockey League’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.
- Paul Vale: English former professional football player who began his career with Southend United, then went on to play for several other clubs.
- Mary Vale: American operatic soprano known for her outstanding performance of Mozart operas in the early twentieth century.
- Dionne Vale: American stage and film actress best remembered for her role in the romantic comedy film, “My Best Friend’s Wedding”.
- Sofia Vale: Brazilian film and television actress known for her roles in telenovelas such as “Passione” and “Terminal”.
- David Vale: British author, printmaker and illustrator of works such as “The Complete Guide to Papercutting” and “Trees”.