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

Vale, 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 Vale surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vale in America

Vale is the 9728th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vale surname appeared 3,334 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Vale.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vale 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 Vale

The surname VALE is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "veal" or "vall," meaning a valley or low-lying area between hills or mountains. This name was likely adopted as a topographic surname, given to individuals who resided in or near a particular valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name VALE can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of lands and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a certain "Roger de Vale," indicating the presence of this surname in the 11th century.

During the 13th century, the VALE surname appeared in various forms, such as "de la Vale" and "atte Vale," reflecting the Norman-French influence on English language and naming conventions at the time. These variations often denoted a person's place of origin or residence.

Notable individuals bearing the VALE surname include Sir Thomas de la Vale (c. 1345-1370), an English knight who fought alongside Edward the Black Prince during the Hundred Years' War. Another prominent figure was John Vale (c. 1460-1516), a renowned English priest and scholar who served as the Dean of Windsor and the Provost of Eton College.

In the 16th century, the VALE surname was also associated with several prominent families in England, such as the Vales of Hertfordshire and the Vales of Suffolk. One noteworthy individual from this period was Robert Vale (1508-1562), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Norfolk.

The 17th century saw the rise of the Vale family of Gloucestershire, with Sir Thomas Vale (1586-1665) being a prominent figure. He was a wealthy landowner, Member of Parliament, and a staunch Royalist during the English Civil War.

As the VALE surname spread across England and eventually to other parts of the British Isles, various spellings emerged, including Veale, Vail, and Vaile. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and local pronunciations.

Other notable individuals with the VALE surname include Charles Vale (1767-1832), an English landscape painter known for his picturesque depictions of rural scenes, and Edmund Vale (1825-1891), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Opera House.

The VALE surname has a rich history deeply rooted in the English landscape and culture, reflecting the topographic origins of many surnames in medieval times. Its enduring presence across centuries and various localities serves as a testament to its significance in the annals of English heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vale

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

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 Vale 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 Vale 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 Vale was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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