Surname Vaill - Meaning and Origin

Vaill: What does the surname Vaill mean?

Vaill is a surname of French origin, derived from the Old French term 'vail', which means 'valley'. This suggests that the initial bearers of this name likely lived or worked in a valley. It falls under the category of topographic surnames, which were given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. It could also possibly be an occupational name for a person who worked in a valley. Like many surnames, 'Vaill' would have been used to distinguish people for the purpose of taxation or enumeration during the Middle Ages. Variations of the name include Vaile, Vail, Veale, and Veil. It is important to emphasize that meanings can differ between cultures and over time, so this is a commonly accepted interpretation rather than a definitive explanation.

Vaill: Where does the name Vaill come from?

The last name Vaill is common today mainly in the United States and Canada. It is particularly concentrated in the Northeastern region of the United States. Records of the surname Vaill can be found in historic places like Massachusetts where the surname was first noted in the 1620s. The Vaill family has been traced historically back to some of the earliest settlers in New England.

Vaill is also quite common in France, particularly in the regions of Nord, Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany, and Loire-Atlantique. In France, the surname first appeared in records during the 15th century in Normandy.

The name Vaill can also be found in some parts of the UK and in countries with French influence, such as Haiti, Quebec, and Louisiana. In countries like Belgium, Sweden, and Finland, there are also records of people bearing the surname Vaill.

Today, the surname Vaill is quite common due to its prevalence in many different countries. As of 2018, more than 5,000 people in the United States bore the surname making it one of the most popular last names in the country.

Variations of the surname Vaill

The surname Vaill has many variants, surnames and spellings. Some common variants include Vail, Vall, Veil, Vaile, Vaill, Vaille, Veall, Veal, Velle, Veille and Veilleux.

Vaill surname is predominantly found in France, but is also present in other countries. It could be derived from a Latin personal name, Vallensis, meaning 'of or related to the valley'. In France, the name Vaill originated from the top regional name of Normandy. There was a place called Verelle in Normandy where the Vaills were believed to have lived.

In England, the name Vaill is descended from the French ancestry. Spellings such as ‘Vale’, ‘Valli’ and ‘Veall’ had become popular in southern and western England by the 16th century.

Vaill could also be derived from the old English word ‘vile’, which means ‘uncensored’ or ‘uncivilized’. The Vaille surname was derived from the French word ‘veille’, which means ‘he or she who stands guard’.

In Scotland, the surname Vaill is derived from old Gaelic names such as 'MacFhail' or'MacVaill'. In Ireland, the surname Vaill is derived from the Gaelic name MacPhail or MacPhailla, which means 'son of Phelan'.

Vaill is also found in regions of Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and Switzerland, where is may have derived from the old Germanic name Walo or Vallo.

All in all, the surname Vaill has a variety of forms, variants, surnames, and spellings originating from various countries and cultures.

Famous people with the name Vaill

• Lewis Vaill (1859–1927), American newspaper editor
• S. Hallock Vaill (1873–1937), American lawyer and author
• Henry Wilson Vaill (1880–1960), American educator and college president
• Otho E. Vaill (1888–1960), American geologist and academic administrator
• Francis B. Vaill (1901–1993), American architect
• Arthur H. Vaill (1903–1973), American lawyer and politician
• John West Vaill (1905–1992), American military officer
• Lyman B. Vaill (1911–1976), American educator
• Cornelius J. Vaill III (1919–1996), American businessman and philanthropist
• Thayer S. Vaill (1921–2004), American lawyer and jurist
• Richard Vaill (1931–2018), American interior designer
• Albert Vaill (1947–2019), American applied mathematician
• Alan Vaill (born 1948), American actor
• David B. Vaill (born 1952), American business executive
• Kyle Vaill (born 1995), American football player

Other surnames

VailVaillantVails