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

Veale, 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 Veale surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Veale in America

Veale is the 16108th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Veale surname appeared 1,797 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 Veale.

We can also compare 2010 data for Veale 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 Veale

The surname VEALE is of Anglo-Saxon origin, with its roots traced back to the counties of Devonshire and Cornwall in England during the medieval period. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English word "veal," meaning "calf" or "small cow," suggesting a possible occupational association with cattle or dairy farming among the earliest bearers of this surname.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the VEALE surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population compiled in 1086 under the order of William the Conqueror. This historical record lists several individuals with variations of the name, such as "de Veal" and "atte Veal," indicating the surname's presence in medieval England.

In the 13th century, the VEALE surname appeared in various legal and ecclesiastical documents, including the Pipe Rolls of Somerset in 1275, which recorded a "Robert Vele." This early spelling variation highlights the fluidity of surname spellings during that era.

One notable bearer of the VEALE surname was Sir Robert Veale (1508-1572), a prominent English merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1564. Another figure was John Veale (1630-1690), an English Puritan minister and writer who authored several religious works during the 17th century.

The VEALE surname has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Veale's Green in Wiltshire and Veales Farm in Somerset. These locations likely derived their names from individuals bearing the VEALE surname who once resided or held land in those areas.

Other historical figures with the VEALE surname include:

1. Thomas Veale (1833-1923), an English architect known for designing several churches and public buildings in Cornwall.
2. Richard Veale (1835-1909), a British naval officer and explorer who participated in Arctic expeditions and served as the Hydrographer of the Admiralty.
3. William Veale (1849-1931), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Somerset County Cricket Club in the late 19th century.
4. Hubert Veale (1873-1963), a British Army officer and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration awarded for valor during World War I.
5. Decimus Veale (1892-1956), an Australian military officer and politician who served as a member of the Australian House of Representatives.

While the VEALE surname may have originated from humble beginnings, its bearers have left their mark on various fields, including commerce, religion, architecture, exploration, sports, and public service, reflecting the diverse paths taken by those carrying this historic Anglo-Saxon name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Veale

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

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

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

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