NameCensus.

UK surname

Vales

A topographic name from Spanish "vale" meaning a valley or dale.

In the 1881 census there were 39 people recorded with the Vales surname, ranking it #28,137 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 108, ranked #29,578, down from #28,137 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swindon, Hillingdon and Brent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Vales is 108 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 176.9%.

1881 census count

39

Ranked #28,137

Modern count

108

2016, ranked #29,578

Peak year

2016

108 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Vales had 39 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,137 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 108 in 2016, ranked #29,578.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 66 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Vales surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Vales surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Vales 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 19 #29,904
1861 historical 66 #25,487
1881 historical 39 #28,137
1891 historical 52 #30,061
1901 historical 35 #30,194
1911 historical 39 #29,025
1997 modern 28 #34,904
1998 modern 29 #34,948
1999 modern 28 #35,127
2000 modern 26 #35,295
2001 modern 27 #35,041
2002 modern 25 #35,428
2003 modern 29 #35,129
2004 modern 30 #35,186
2005 modern 33 #35,119
2006 modern 34 #35,255
2007 modern 44 #34,760
2008 modern 47 #34,699
2009 modern 52 #34,544
2010 modern 62 #34,069
2011 modern 71 #33,392
2012 modern 84 #32,502
2013 modern 90 #32,146
2014 modern 99 #31,186
2015 modern 107 #29,708
2016 modern 108 #29,578

Geography

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Where Vales' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swindon, Hillingdon, Brent and Southampton. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swindon 015 Swindon
2 Hillingdon 030 Hillingdon
3 Brent 020 Brent
4 Brent 029 Brent
5 Southampton 028 Southampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Vales

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Vales

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Vales, 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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Vales surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Vales household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Vales is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Vales is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Vales 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 Vales is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Vales

The surname Vales originated in the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Latin word "vallis," meaning a valley or vale. The earliest recorded instances of this surname can be traced back to medieval Spain and Portugal, where it likely referred to someone who lived in or near a valley.

One of the earliest known bearers of this name was Rui Vales, a Portuguese nobleman who lived in the 13th century. Records show that he was a prominent landowner in the region of Beira, which is known for its fertile valleys and rolling hills.

In the 14th century, the name appears in the historic records of the Kingdom of Aragon, which spanned parts of modern-day Spain and France. A notable figure from this time was Juan de Vales, a knight who served in the court of King Pedro IV of Aragon (1319-1387).

As the centuries passed, the Vales surname spread across Europe, with various spellings emerging in different regions. In Italy, for example, the name was sometimes written as "Valli," while in France, it appeared as "Vallée" or "Vallès."

One of the most renowned individuals with this surname was the Italian painter and architect Giuseppe Vales (1597-1676). He was highly regarded for his contributions to the Baroque style and his work can still be seen in several churches and palaces in Rome and other Italian cities.

Another notable figure was the Spanish explorer and navigator Álvaro de Vales (c. 1550-1609), who played a significant role in the early exploration and colonization of the Pacific Ocean. He commanded several voyages across the Pacific and is credited with discovering several islands in the Tuamotu Archipelago.

In the 19th century, the Vales surname gained prominence in the United States, where it was often anglicized to "Vail" or "Vale." One of the most famous Americans with this name was Theodore N. Vail (1845-1920), the former president of AT&T and a pioneer in the development of the modern telephone system.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Vales families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Vales 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. Lincolnshire leads with 12 Vales' recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.73x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 12 19.73x
Middlesex 7 1.84x
Cambridgeshire 5 20.76x
Glamorgan 3 4.53x
Nottinghamshire 3 5.85x
Warwickshire 3 3.13x
Devon 2 2.53x
Lancashire 1 0.22x
Leicestershire 1 2.37x
Somerset 1 1.63x
Staffordshire 1 0.78x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Steeping in Lincolnshire leads with 7 Vales' recorded in 1881 and an index of 23333.33x.

Place Total Index
Great Steeping 7 23333.33x
Bethnal Green London 5 30.27x
Elm 5 2083.33x
Monks Liberty 5 50000.00x
Llanwonno 3 126.05x
Newark Upon Trent 3 163.04x
Rugby 2 153.85x
Stonehouse East 2 500.00x
Aston 1 3.79x
Bedminster 1 17.39x
Gaddesby 1 3333.33x
Harborne 1 24.33x
Over Darwen 1 27.70x
Spitalfields London 1 34.97x
St George Hanover 1 20.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 3
Hannah 2
Maria 2
Mary 2
Sarah 2
Alice 1
Ann 1
Elinor 1
Fanny 1
Hephzibah 1
Kate 1
Lavinia 1
Ruth 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 4
George 3
James 3
Harry 2
William 2
Charles 1
Frank 1
Henry 1
Shepherd 1
Thomas 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Vales households.

FAQ

Vales surname: questions and answers

How common was the Vales surname in 1881?

In 1881, 39 people were recorded with the Vales surname. That placed it at #28,137 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Vales surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 108 in 2016. That gives Vales a modern rank of #29,578.

What does the Vales surname mean?

A topographic name from Spanish "vale" meaning a valley or dale.

What does the Vales map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Vales 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.