NameCensus.

UK surname

Vale

An English and Spanish topographic surname referring to someone who lived in a valley.

In the 1881 census there were 2,130 people recorded with the Vale surname, ranking it #2,079 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,834, ranked #2,373, down from #2,079 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Yardley, London parishes and Romford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stratford-on-Avon, Wyre Forest and Suffolk Coastal.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Vale is 3,046 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.1%.

1881 census count

2,130

Ranked #2,079

Modern count

2,834

2016, ranked #2,373

Peak year

1999

3,046 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Vale had 2,130 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,079 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,834 in 2016, ranked #2,373.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,936 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Vale surname distribution map

The map shows where the Vale surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Vale surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Vale over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 1,274 #2,243
1861 historical 1,333 #2,148
1881 historical 2,130 #2,079
1891 historical 2,276 #2,051
1901 historical 2,670 #2,067
1911 historical 2,936 #1,772
1997 modern 2,905 #2,229
1998 modern 3,030 #2,226
1999 modern 3,046 #2,222
2000 modern 2,978 #2,260
2001 modern 2,928 #2,248
2002 modern 2,968 #2,265
2003 modern 2,906 #2,261
2004 modern 2,859 #2,305
2005 modern 2,781 #2,341
2006 modern 2,781 #2,330
2007 modern 2,803 #2,331
2008 modern 2,816 #2,341
2009 modern 2,850 #2,365
2010 modern 2,951 #2,337
2011 modern 2,905 #2,342
2012 modern 2,876 #2,325
2013 modern 2,905 #2,339
2014 modern 2,899 #2,356
2015 modern 2,875 #2,350
2016 modern 2,834 #2,373

Geography

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Where Vales are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Yardley, London parishes, Romford and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stratford-on-Avon, Wyre Forest, Suffolk Coastal and Walsall. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Yardley Warwickshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Romford Essex
4 London parishes London 2
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stratford-on-Avon 003 Stratford-on-Avon
2 Wyre Forest 001 Wyre Forest
3 Suffolk Coastal 003 Suffolk Coastal
4 Wyre Forest 012 Wyre Forest
5 Walsall 002 Walsall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Vale

These lists show first names that appear often with the Vale surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Vale

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Vale, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Vale surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Vale household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Vale is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Vale is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Vale falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Vale is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Vale, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Vale

The surname VALE is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "veal" or "vall," meaning a valley or low-lying area between hills or mountains. This name was likely adopted as a topographic surname, given to individuals who resided in or near a particular valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name VALE can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of lands and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a certain "Roger de Vale," indicating the presence of this surname in the 11th century.

During the 13th century, the VALE surname appeared in various forms, such as "de la Vale" and "atte Vale," reflecting the Norman-French influence on English language and naming conventions at the time. These variations often denoted a person's place of origin or residence.

Notable individuals bearing the VALE surname include Sir Thomas de la Vale (c. 1345-1370), an English knight who fought alongside Edward the Black Prince during the Hundred Years' War. Another prominent figure was John Vale (c. 1460-1516), a renowned English priest and scholar who served as the Dean of Windsor and the Provost of Eton College.

In the 16th century, the VALE surname was also associated with several prominent families in England, such as the Vales of Hertfordshire and the Vales of Suffolk. One noteworthy individual from this period was Robert Vale (1508-1562), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Norfolk.

The 17th century saw the rise of the Vale family of Gloucestershire, with Sir Thomas Vale (1586-1665) being a prominent figure. He was a wealthy landowner, Member of Parliament, and a staunch Royalist during the English Civil War.

As the VALE surname spread across England and eventually to other parts of the British Isles, various spellings emerged, including Veale, Vail, and Vaile. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and local pronunciations.

Other notable individuals with the VALE surname include Charles Vale (1767-1832), an English landscape painter known for his picturesque depictions of rural scenes, and Edmund Vale (1825-1891), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Opera House.

The VALE surname has a rich history deeply rooted in the English landscape and culture, reflecting the topographic origins of many surnames in medieval times. Its enduring presence across centuries and various localities serves as a testament to its significance in the annals of English heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Vale families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Vale surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Warwickshire leads with 365 Vales recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.94x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 365 6.94x
Middlesex 294 1.41x
Essex 224 5.44x
Worcestershire 179 6.57x
Herefordshire 153 17.88x
Staffordshire 153 2.17x
Surrey 138 1.36x
Gloucestershire 96 2.35x
Lancashire 69 0.28x
Somerset 55 1.64x
Yorkshire 45 0.22x
Suffolk 41 1.61x
Cambridgeshire 34 2.57x
Derbyshire 32 0.98x
Shropshire 30 1.66x
Kent 27 0.38x
Hertfordshire 25 1.74x
Glamorgan 24 0.66x
Hampshire 23 0.54x
Norfolk 17 0.53x
Leicestershire 16 0.69x
Lincolnshire 15 0.45x
Durham 14 0.23x
Bedfordshire 8 0.74x
Isle of Man 8 2.06x
Cheshire 7 0.15x
Sussex 7 0.20x
Carmarthenshire 6 0.68x
Buckinghamshire 5 0.40x
Berkshire 4 0.26x
Devon 4 0.09x
Huntingdonshire 4 0.97x
Northamptonshire 4 0.20x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.14x
Monmouthshire 3 0.20x
Royal Navy 2 0.80x
Wiltshire 2 0.11x
Cornwall 1 0.04x
Westmorland 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 188 Vales recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.72x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 188 10.72x
Aston 97 6.69x
Romford 33 50.68x
Handsworth 30 17.28x
Bethnal Green London 29 3.20x
Fulham London 28 9.25x
Lambeth 27 1.48x
Mile End Old Town 27 8.20x
Clerkenwell London 26 5.28x
Kings Norton 24 9.82x
Camberwell 23 1.73x
Walsall Foreign 23 6.32x
Bengeworth 20 213.22x
Bermondsey 20 3.22x
Cheltenham 20 6.33x
Colchester St Giles 18 44.23x
Studley 17 75.56x
West Wratting 17 401.89x
Barrow In Furness 16 4.75x
Birchanger 16 470.59x
Hackney London 16 1.37x
Paddington London 16 2.09x
Takeley 16 271.65x
West Ham 16 1.76x
Edgbaston 15 9.19x
Newington 15 1.95x
Shoreditch London 15 1.66x
Wolverhampton 15 2.77x
Bidford 14 124.44x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 14 3.63x
Merthyr Tydfil 14 4.01x
Banwell 13 106.04x
Kingswinford 13 5.08x
Pembridge 13 137.71x
Redditch 13 23.53x
Colchester St James 12 71.90x
Hammersmith London 12 2.33x
Hartlebury 12 73.98x
Leominster 12 33.89x
Ludlow St Lawrence 12 33.46x
Sawbridgeworth 12 55.10x
Grafton 11 1392.41x
Keynsham 11 45.61x
Leeds 11 0.94x
Darlaston 10 10.27x
Eye 10 198.81x
Grenton 10 1041.67x
Newnham 10 95.15x
St Andrew Holborn 10 14.14x
St Marylebone London 10 0.90x
Wimbledon 10 8.76x
Colchester St Botolph 9 25.69x
Felstead 9 63.78x
Grays Thurrock 9 23.51x
Hatfield Broad Oak 9 64.75x
Humber 9 489.13x
Manthorpe Cum Little 9 35.28x
Rotherhithe 9 3.49x
St Botolph Aldgate 9 31.60x
St Devereux 9 625.00x
Tipton 9 4.17x
Warrington 9 3.07x
Bolsover 8 48.84x
Bristol St George 8 4.23x
Chester Le Street 8 16.78x
Croydon 8 1.42x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 8 13.88x
Kingstone 8 253.16x
Mildenhall 8 29.62x
St Clement Danes 8 23.68x
St Pancras London 8 0.48x
Stourbridge 8 11.41x
Tardebigg 8 192.31x
Turvey 8 117.13x
White Roothing 8 264.90x
Yardley 8 11.47x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 7 9.35x
Litchurch 7 5.32x
Lower Mitton 7 29.15x
Sutton Coldfield 7 12.66x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Vale surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Vale surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 164
John 108
George 91
Thomas 64
Henry 55
James 51
Charles 50
Alfred 39
Edward 33
Arthur 29
Joseph 27
Frederick 25
Walter 24
Albert 19
Harry 17
Samuel 13
Ernest 12
Richard 11
Robert 11
Benjamin 10
David 10
Francis 9
Wm. 8
J. 7
Edwin 6
Thos. 6
Frank 5
Herbert 4
Patrick 4
Daniel 3
Elias 3
Fredrick 3
Isaac 3
Leonard 3
Percy 3
Stephen 3
Willm. 3
Abraham 2
Earnest 2
Edgar 2
Edwd. 2
Eli 2
Geo. 2
Lewis 2
Mark 2
Peter 2
Robt. 2
Saml. 2
Sidney 2
Soloman 2

FAQ

Vale surname: questions and answers

How common was the Vale surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,130 people were recorded with the Vale surname. That placed it at #2,079 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Vale surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,834 in 2016. That gives Vale a modern rank of #2,373.

What does the Vale surname mean?

An English and Spanish topographic surname referring to someone who lived in a valley.

What does the Vale map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Vale bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.