10,936 Global Vale Family Members

Vale Family History

This interesting surname is of early medieval English origin (found mainly in the South of England and the Midlands), and is a topographical name form someone who lived in a valley. The name is derived from the Middle English (1200 - 1500) "vale", the Old French "val", from the Latin "vallis" a valley. Topographical surnames were among the earliest created, since both natural and man-made features in the landscape provided easily recognisable distinguishing names. The surname is also common in Ireland, where it has been Gaelicized as de Bhal, now known as Wall. The name development since 1190 (see below) includes the following: Walter ate Vale (1327, Sussex), John Vale (1382, Cambridgeshire) and Nicholas Vayle (1623, Yorkshire)...