Contents [hide]

Vale History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand West Indies South Africa

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Sources

Vale History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Etymology of Vale

What does the name Vale mean?

Today's generation of the Vale family bears a name that was brought to England by the migration wave that was started by the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Vale family lived in Northumberland. Their name, however, is a reference to La Val, in the lower Marne valley of Normandy, the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. Checking further we found the name was derived from the Old French word val, meaning valley.

The Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae listed Roger de la Vale in Normandy in 1180. 1

Early Origins of the Vale family

The surname Vale was first found in Northumberland where they were granted land by William the Conqueror. The family were originally known as Delaval and took their name from the Castle of La Val in the lower Marne valley in Normandy.

Some of the first records of the family were found north, in Scotland. "About 1190 Gilbert de la Val witnessed a charter by William de Hauekeristone of certain lands in the territory of Innerwick to the Abbey of Kelso. " 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Eustace del Val and Hugh de la Val as holding lands in Northumberland at that time. 3

Early History of the Vale family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Vale research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1190, 1364, 1578, 1582, 1583, 1604 and 1655 are included under the topic Early Vale History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Vale Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Vale include Vale, Vail, Veil, Fale, Fail and others.

Early Notables of the Vale family

Another 37 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Vale Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Vale Ranking

In the United States, the name Vale is the 9,491^st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Vale family to Ireland

Some of the Vale family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 37 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Vale migration to the United States +

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Vales to arrive on North American shores:

Vale Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Jeremiah Vale, who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1639 5
Jacob Fonceco Vale, who landed in America in 1679 5
Mary Vale, who landed in Virginia in 1699 5

Vale Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Margaret Vale, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 5
John and Margaret Vale, who arrived in New York state in 1811
John Vale, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 5
Joseph Vale, who arrived in New York in 1837 5

Vale Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

W H Vale, who arrived in Arkansas in 1905 5

Vale migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Vale Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

David Vale from County Waterford, Ireland was married in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1808 6

Vale migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Vale Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

William Vale, English convict from Staffordshire, who was transported aboard the "Arab" on July 3, 1822, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 7
Nicholas Vale, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Bussorah Merchant" in 1848 8
H. Vale, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Elizabeth" in 1849 9
Mr. Thomas Vale, (b. 1827), aged 22, Cornish miller from Penzance, Cornwall UK travelling aboard the ship "Pemberton" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 14th May 1849 10
Mrs. Charlotte Vale, (b. 1828), aged 21, Cornish settler from Penzance, Cornwall UK travelling aboard the ship "Pemberton" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 14th May 1849 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Vale migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Vale Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Francis Vale, (b. 1834), aged 24, British wheelwright travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indiana" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 28th November 1858 11
Mr. Henry Vale, (b. 1834), aged 24, British wheelwright travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indiana" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 28th November 1858 11
Elizabeth Vale, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Blairgowrie" in 1875

Vale migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 12

Vale Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Jacob Vale, who settled in Barbados with four servants in 1680

Contemporary Notables of the name Vale (post 1700) +

Eric Vale (b. 1974), stage name of Christopher Eric Johnson, American voice actor, ADR Director and ADR Script Writer
Jerry Vale (b. 1932), born Gennaro Luigi Vitaliano, an American singer
Sheridan Vale, American politician, Representative from Indiana 1st District, 1954 13
Ruby Ross Vale (1874-1961), American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Delaware, 1912, 1916, 1948 (alternate) 13
Ray Vale Jr., American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Texas State House of Representatives 125th District, 1996 13
J. Q. A. Vale, American politician, Member of Minnesota State House of Representatives 11th District, 1869, 1871 13
J. G. Vale, American politician, Candidate for Governor of Iowa, 1873 13
Harvey M. Vale, American politician, U.S. Attorney for Dakota Territory, 1861 13
Elizabeth Vale, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Pennsylvania, 2000 13
Antonio Cabán Vale (1942-2024), also known as "El Topo", Puerto Rican guitarist, singer and composer of folkloric themes, one of the founders of the "new song" movement
... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Vale Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: In te domine speravi
Motto Translation: In thee, O Lord, I have placed my hope.

Sources +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Arab voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1822 with 155 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/arab/1822
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BUSSORAH MERCHANT 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848BussorahMerchant.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ELIZABETH 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Elizabeth.htm
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, May 30). Ships' Passenger Lists of Arrivals in New South Wales on (1828 - 1842, 1848 - 1849) [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nsw_1838_on.pdf
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html