Contents [hide]

Vail History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Vail History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Vail is a name that was brought to England by the ancestors of the Vail family when they migrated to the region after the Norman Conquest in 1066. The Vail 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 Vail family

The surname Vail 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 Vail family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Vail 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 Vail History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Vail Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Vail have been found, including Vale, Vail, Veil, Fale, Fail and others.

Early Notables of the Vail family

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

Vail Ranking

In the United States, the name Vail is the 2,913^rd most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Vail family to Ireland

Some of the Vail 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.

Vail migration to the United States +

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Vail were among those contributors:

Vail Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Jeremiah Vail, who landed in Salem, Massachusetts in 1639 5
Thomas Vail, who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1640 5

Vail Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Jacob Vail, who landed in Maryland in 1840 5
James Vail, aged 37, who arrived in Mobile County, Ala in 1840 5
John Vail, aged 33, who arrived in Mobile County, Ala in 1840 5
S T Vail, aged 34, who landed in Key West, Fla in 1846 5
J Vail, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Vail Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Amelia Vail, who immigrated to the United States, in 1906
Bessie Vail, aged 24, who settled in America, in 1907
Alice Vail, aged 48, who settled in America, in 1908
Anna S. Vail, aged 45, who immigrated to America, in 1910
Benjamin A. Vail, aged 67, who immigrated to the United States, in 1912
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Vail migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Vail Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Asher Vail U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 6
Mr. Daniel Vail U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 6
Mr. Isaac Vail U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 6
Mr. Nathaniel Vail U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 6
Mr. Peter Vail U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Vail Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Thomas Vail, who settled in Lower Island Cove, Newfoundland in 1858 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Vail (post 1700) +

William Vail (1950-1974), American set decorator and actor, best known for his role as "Kirk" in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Charles Henry Vail (1866-1924), American Universalist clergyman and Christian socialist political activist and writer
Stephen Vail (1780-1864), American founding partner of the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia
Rachel Vail (b. 1966), American author of children's and young adult books
Robert Garfield "Bob" Vail (1881-1942), American Major League Baseball pitcher
Louis D. Vail, American football coach
Henry Vail (1782-1853), American politician, U.S. Representative from New York
Ira Vail (1893-1979), Canadian-American racecar driver
Aaron Vail (1796-1878), American Ambassador
Myrtle Vail (1888-1978), American actress and writer, known for her leading role in the radio soap opera Myrt and Marge
... (Another 10 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Vail 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.

Citations +

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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0