Find out how popular the last name Vail is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Vail.

Vail, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Vail surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vail in America

Vail is the 3385th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vail surname appeared 10,554 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Vail.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vail to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Vail

The surname Vail originated in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "val," meaning a valley or dale. This suggests that the name may have initially been used to identify someone who lived in a valley or near a valley region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Vail can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land holdings and property in England. The Domesday Book mentions a person named "Radulfus de val," which translates to Ralph from the valley.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records with different spellings, such as "de Val," "de Valle," and "de Vail." These variations likely reflect the changing spellings and pronunciations of the name over time.

The surname Vail is also linked to several place names in England, such as Vale Royal in Cheshire and Vallis in Shropshire. These place names may have influenced the adoption of the surname by families living in or near these areas.

One notable individual with the surname Vail was Sir Harry Vail (1588-1662), an English politician and Member of Parliament during the English Civil War. He was a staunch Royalist and supported King Charles I against the Parliamentarians.

Another significant figure was Benjamin Vail (1773-1844), an American inventor and gunsmith from New Jersey. He is credited with developing the first fully revolving firearm, known as the Vail Revolver, which paved the way for modern revolvers.

Thomas Hubbard Vail (1807-1859) was an American businessman and co-founder of the American Telegraph Company, which played a crucial role in the development of the telegraph system in the United States.

Alfred Vail (1807-1859) was a renowned American machinist and inventor who collaborated with Samuel Morse to develop the Morse code and the electromagnetic telegraph system. He played a vital role in the practical implementation of the telegraph and is considered a pioneer in the field of telecommunications.

Anna Murray Vail (1828-1915) was an American abolitionist and a prominent figure in the Underground Railroad. She was married to Lewis Vail, and their home in Brooklyn served as a safe haven for escaped enslaved individuals seeking freedom in the North.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the surname Vail, demonstrating the rich heritage and significance of this name in various fields and contexts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vail

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Vail.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Vail was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Vail has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Vail was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Vail, please contact us.

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