Surname Veale - Meaning and Origin
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Veale: What does the surname Veale mean?
The surname Veale has several possible origins. The first is Anglo-Saxon, derived from the old English pre 7th Century term "fela", which means 'much' or 'many'. When used as a surname, it could possibly be a nickname for a person who is considered to be very lively or cheerful.
Another possibility is that Veale derives from the old French word "veal" or "viel", which means 'calf'. In this context, the surname may have originated from a term of endearment or possibly from a trader in veal (young beef).
In Ireland, the surname Veale is often of Welsh origin, being an anglicised form of the Welsh surname 'Vyvyan' or 'Vivian'. However, it is also a variation of the Irish Gaelic "O' Bheolain", originally derived from 'beol' which means mouth. The "V" in Irish is often interchangeable with "B", making "Bheolain" turn into "Veale".
Therefore, the surname Veale carries connotations of liveliness, trade, or a reference to the physical characteristics of a person, or a geographical reference in the context of Irish and Welsh origins.
Order DNA origin analysisVeale: Where does the name Veale come from?
The last name Veale is most commonly found in English-speaking countries, especially the United Kingdom and Australia. In the United States, Veale is thought to be of British origin and is most commonly found in Tennessee, South Carolina and New York. Australia has the highest frequency of Veale family members, with the name having spread to the continent from England in the 19th century.
In England, Veale is a West Country name, most associated with the counties of Gloucestershire, Devon and Somerset. The Veale family first appeared in Somerset in the 1200s, and their surnames spread across England as its regional economy and population began to grow.
In Scotland, the name is relatively rare, with records of the name appearing as far back as the 16th century. Canada has a higher frequency of Veale families, due to the country's large population of people of British descent, and various Veale-bearing immigrants who left the United Kingdom during the 18th and 19th centuries.
With the globalisation of the world, Veale families have spread to far corners of the world such as South Africa, New Zealand, India, Singapore and more. Furthermore, with the rise of online genealogical databases, it's becoming increasingly easier to trace the various branches of the Veale family.
Variations of the surname Veale
Veale is an English surname, derived from Old French. It is also spelt and found as Veal, Vealle, Veall, Veile, and Veille.
The surname Veale is derived from the Old French surname "Vieul" meaning "old". The name may have initially been born by a man who was referred to as being old, possibly due to physical or mental characteristics, or possibly based on age. The Old French suffix 'e' was often added to names, forming 'Vieule'. Over time the pronunciation may have eventually become pronounced as 'Veale'.
Veale is an English surname found mainly in the south of the England where it could have evolved from the Cornish surname "Veaile" which is derived from the Gaelic "O seasal", meaning "wise scholar".
Variants of Veale include Veall, Vealle, Veele, Veille and Veal. All these forms are derived from the same French origin. The surname is also found with a double l such as Veall and Vealle. This spelling may reflect the original French spelling of "Vieulle".
Over time the surname could have also been pronounced in different ways. Spelling variations could also exist based on regional dialects which could have been spelt phonetically based on the way it was said.
In conclusion, the Veale surname is derived from Old French and can be found with different spellings and variants, including Veall, Vealle, Veele, Veille, and Veal. It is mainly found in the south of England, and variations may have been caused by regional dialects and pronunciations.
Famous people with the name Veale
- Charlotte Veale: British paralympic swimmer.
- Eric Veale: Former professional Canadian soccer player.
- Rachel Veale: British children's book author.
- Constance Veale: British psychoanalyst and author.
- Lord Alfred Douglas Veale: British Chief of the General Staff.
- Matthew Veale: British actor and singer.
- William Henry Veale: Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
- Baldwin Veale: British World War II veteran.
- Robert Yeamans Veale: British aviator.
- Peter Veale: German clarinet player and conductor.