Surname Veillet - Meaning and Origin
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Veillet: What does the surname Veillet mean?
The last name Veillet is of French origin. It is derived from the old French words 'veiller' or 'veille', which means to watch or guard. Therefore, this surname could have been an occupational name given to individuals who were watchmen, guards, or vigilantes. Alternatively, it might have been a nickname for someone who stayed awake all night due to insomnia. It's also possible that it was named after a place with the same or similar name. Like many surnames, the precise origins can be hard to trace due to the passing of time and the evolution of language. Also, it needs to mention that surnames were often adapted as families moved to new locations and languages. Hence, the precise modern meaning may have deviated from its original significance.
Order DNA origin analysisVeillet: Where does the name Veillet come from?
The last name Veillet is most commonly found in Europe today, particularly in France. It is estimated that there are less than 1,000 people with the last name Veillet in France, as of 2020. As a result, the majority of people with this surname will likely be of French descent.
The surname Veillet is believed to have been derived from the old French word "veil," which means "protector," suggesting that this name was once given as a sign of protection for a person or family. The earliest records of this last name date back to the 11th century when it appeared on documents listing a family named Constantine de Veillet from the region of Yvelines, France. It is likely that there is a connection between this family and the current holders of the surname.
Veillet is also found in Switzerland, where it is thought to have been taken to the country in the 16th century by French immigrants. Additionally, it is found in other European countries, including Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Germany.
As the surname is fairly uncommon, it is possible to trace family connections with relative ease. This is particularly useful for people of French descent since it can help individuals to connect with, or even discover, their ancestral origins.
Variations of the surname Veillet
Veillet is an old French surname of unknown origin. It is also found in northern France and Belgium. It is also orthographically variant Vele, Veleu, Veuillet, Vueillet and Veilleux, and in certain instances exists as Villes or Villot.
In France, the name mainly originates from the French provinces of Valenciennes or Ecouen. The coat of arms of the Veillet family dates back to the 16th century and depicts a sable fess on a field of argent.
In Belgium, the name is mainly found in the Hainaut, Liège and Flanders regions of the country. The last known family of Veillet to inhabit Belgium were found in Dinant in the 19th century.
In the US, the name appears in records as largely anglicised, and spelled as Veale and Veil, amongst other variances.
In Canada, the name Veillet was taken to Québec from France in the late 17th and early 18th century by the first French settlers.
In the UK, the name Veillet is recorded in both Scotland and England, albeit in the census returns of 1881 in small numbers.
Spelling variations of the name in various parts of the world can also include Veall, Veal, Vealle, Veele and Vele.
Saarland, located in Germany, is also home to a few Veilleux families.
The name Veillet is also embraced by Flemish and Walloon people in Europe and by French-Canadian individuals in North America.
Famous people with the name Veillet
- Pierre Veillet: an architect and sculptor from France who designed the fountain in the center of a square in Roanne, France.
- Jean-Jacques Veillet: a Catholic priest from France who is known for his pastoral work, particularly his involvement in education.
- Jean-Baptiste Veillet: a French sculptor who worked in the late 19th century and was famous for his sculptures of animals, particularly cats.
- Guy Veillet: an illustrator from France who is best known for his artwork accompanying the 1958 novel Voyage au centre de la Terre by Jules Verne.
- Alexis Veillet: a French artist who is known for his historical oil paintings.
- Jean Veillet: a French organ builder from the late 19th and early 20th centuries who specialized in the restoration of organs from the XVIII and XIX centuries.
- Raymond Veillet: a prominent French painter from the 20th century who is best remembered for his work in the genre of landscape painting.
- Paul Veillet: a Swiss businessman and entrepreneur who was the founder of the Veilet Transport Company in Geneva, Switzerland.
- Julien Veillet: a French paleontologist from the late 20th century who was notable for his contributions to the study of prehistoric life.
- Marcel Veillet: a celebrated French chef and restaurateur who is known for creating traditional French cuisine.