UK surname
A locational surname derived from a place name in France or England.
In the 1881 census there were 77 people recorded with the Viall surname, ranking it #22,617 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 59, ranked #34,401, down from #22,617 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Cavendish, Bocking and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Viall is 121 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 23.4%.
1881 census count
77
Ranked #22,617
Modern count
59
2016, ranked #34,401
Peak year
1911
121 bearers
Map years
3
1891 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Viall surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Viall surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 78 | #19,840 |
| 1861 | historical | 89 | #22,419 |
| 1881 | historical | 77 | #22,617 |
| 1891 | historical | 108 | #22,828 |
| 1901 | historical | 109 | #21,712 |
| 1911 | historical | 121 | #20,336 |
| 1997 | modern | 65 | #31,141 |
| 1998 | modern | 71 | #30,869 |
| 1999 | modern | 67 | #31,409 |
| 2000 | modern | 61 | #32,039 |
| 2001 | modern | 60 | #31,985 |
| 2002 | modern | 67 | #31,723 |
| 2003 | modern | 62 | #32,258 |
| 2004 | modern | 66 | #32,079 |
| 2005 | modern | 63 | #32,602 |
| 2006 | modern | 61 | #33,142 |
| 2007 | modern | 60 | #33,539 |
| 2008 | modern | 61 | #33,655 |
| 2009 | modern | 63 | #33,751 |
| 2010 | modern | 65 | #33,863 |
| 2011 | modern | 70 | #33,465 |
| 2012 | modern | 68 | #33,763 |
| 2013 | modern | 65 | #34,059 |
| 2014 | modern | 63 | #34,212 |
| 2015 | modern | 57 | #34,519 |
| 2016 | modern | 59 | #34,401 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Cavendish, Bocking, London parishes and Boreham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cavendish | Suffolk |
| 2 | Bocking | Essex |
| 3 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 4 | Boreham | Essex |
| 5 | London parishes | London 3 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Viall surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Viall, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Viall surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Viall household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Viall is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Viall is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Viall, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Viall originated in France and can be traced back to the early medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "vialle," meaning a small village or hamlet. This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who hailed from a particular small settlement.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Viall appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. Here, the name is listed as "de Vial," indicating its French origins.
During the 12th century, the name is found in various records across Normandy, France. One notable mention is that of Geoffroy de Viall, a knight who participated in the Third Crusade alongside King Richard the Lionheart in the late 1100s.
As the name spread across Europe, it adopted different spellings and variations, such as Vial, Vialle, and Viale. In England, the name is thought to have been introduced by Norman settlers after the conquest of 1066, with early records showing spellings like Viel and Vyel.
One of the earliest known bearers of the Viall name in England was Sir John Viall, a prominent landowner in Gloucestershire, who lived from 1320 to 1395. Another notable figure was Thomas Viall, a merchant and alderman in the City of London, who lived from 1550 to 1618.
In the 17th century, the name gained recognition through the works of the French philosopher and mathematician René Viall (1592-1637), who made significant contributions to the development of modern mathematics and the scientific method.
Other notable individuals with the surname Viall include:
1. Jacques Viall (1640-1718), a French painter and engraver known for his landscapes and architectural scenes. 2. Marie-Antoinette Viall (1755-1842), a French aristocrat and courtier at the court of King Louis XVI. 3. Charles Viall (1810-1879), an English author and journalist who wrote extensively on social and political issues of his time. 4. Émile Viall (1867-1935), a French military officer and explorer who led several expeditions in Africa and Asia. 5. Yvonne Viall (1906-1992), a French actress and singer who appeared in numerous stage productions and films during the early 20th century.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Viall surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Essex leads with 25 Vialls recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.65x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Boreham in Essex leads with 8 Vialls recorded in 1881 and an index of 3076.92x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Boreham | 8 | 3076.92x |
| Cavendish | 6 | 2000.00x |
| Tottenham | 5 | 41.25x |
| Marple | 4 | 347.83x |
| Romford | 4 | 168.78x |
| Bocking | 3 | 333.33x |
| Camberwell | 3 | 6.17x |
| Camborne | 3 | 84.51x |
| Chelmsford | 3 | 116.28x |
| Gwinear | 3 | 731.71x |
| Hampstead London | 3 | 25.32x |
| Lambeth | 3 | 4.52x |
| Margaretting | 3 | 2142.86x |
| Mile End Old Town | 3 | 24.98x |
| Sudbury St Gregory | 3 | 405.41x |
| Torkington | 3 | 5000.00x |
| East Bergholt | 2 | 645.16x |
| Hackney London | 2 | 4.69x |
| Hingham | 2 | 500.00x |
| St George Hanover | 2 | 20.14x |
| St Marylebone London | 2 | 4.92x |
| Ballingdon Cum Brundon | 1 | 526.32x |
| Brighton | 1 | 3.86x |
| Colchester St Mary At | 1 | 188.68x |
| Folkestone | 1 | 19.88x |
| Lawford | 1 | 454.55x |
| Sacombe | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Springfield | 1 | 151.52x |
| St Saviour | 1 | 80.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Viall surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Viall surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Viall households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 12 |
| Farmers Daughter | 2 |
| Gardener | 2 |
| Grocers Porter | 2 |
| Servant (Domestic) | 2 |
| Works At Mine | 2 |
| (Silk) Dyer Foreman | 1 |
| Ag. Lab. | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Assistant (Grocer) | 1 |
| Brewers Clerk | 1 |
| Bricklayers Laborer | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Commercial Traveller | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Domestic Servt | 1 |
| Drapers Assistant | 1 |
| Drapers Asst | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Farm Laborer | 1 |
| Farmer | 1 |
| Farmer Son | 1 |
| Footman | 1 |
| Footman Dom Serv | 1 |
| Grocer & Cheesemonger | 1 |
| Hairdresser | 1 |
| Hairdresser Wife | 1 |
| Ironmonger | 1 |
| Lab Ind Rub Factory | 1 |
| Ladys Maid | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| Mop Maker 17/4 | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Pleter Printworks (CP) | 1 |
| Signalman (Ry) | 1 |
| Sugar Buyer (...) | 1 |
| Tin Miners Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 77 people were recorded with the Viall surname. That placed it at #22,617 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 59 in 2016. That gives Viall a modern rank of #34,401.
A locational surname derived from a place name in France or England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Viall bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.