Surname Vealey - Meaning and Origin

Vealey: What does the surname Vealey mean?

The last name Vealey is derived from the Old French word "vallee," which translates to "valley" in English. This name was commonly granted to families who lived in or near a valley. The name is considered topographic, a type of surname that was given based on the geographic characteristics of the person's dwelling place. Variations of the name include Veale, Vial, Viall, and many others. It first appeared in recorded history in Devon, England, before the Norman conquest in the 11th century. These few details about the Vealey surname give us insights into the life, environment, and location of our ancestors who bore the name. But just like many other last names, the meaning of Vealey can vary based on its origins and transformations over centuries. So, individuals carrying that surname today may have different ancestries and geographical origins. As with many surnames, tracing the exact origins and meanings can be challenging due to the changes in spelling and language over time.

Vealey: Where does the name Vealey come from?

The last name Vealey is common today in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In 2018, the United States Census reported 6,912 people in the United States with the last name Vealey, making it the 3,195th most common surname in the country.

In the United Kingdom, Vealey is a much less common last name than in other English-speaking countries. According to the website Forebears, 764 people in the UK had the surname in 2019, ranking it as the 22,949th most common last name.

In Canada, the last name Vealey is notable, ranking as the 7,706th most common last name in the country. According to StatCan’s 2018 census, there were 1,322 people with the surname.

In Australia, the surname is much more uncommon, ranked the 48,874th most common last name in the country. In 2019, according to Forebears, there were only 147 people with the surname.

New Zealand had the fewest amount of Vealeys with only 7 people having the last name according to Forebears, making it the country’s 79,992nd most common surname.

Overall, the last name Vealey is most common in the United States and other English-speaking countries, though in the UK it is relatively uncommon.

Variations of the surname Vealey

The surname Vealey has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Variations of the surname include Veale, Veal, Veall, Veel, Veele, Viel, and Vealy. Spellings of the name can include Vial, Vielle, Vealy, Vayley, Vayle, and Vayl.

The surnames of the same origin include Vealey-Davey, Davey, Daveys, Dow, and Dowse. Vealey-Davey is the most common name of the group, but the others all derive from the same root name. Vealey is the original form of the surname, although the spelling was likely simplified at some point in the family's history.

The Veale family was originally from England and is believed to have descended from the Norman Veel family. The surname was eventually anglicized from the French-Norman spelling to the present-day Vealey.

The Veale and Vealey families have spread throughout the world over the centuries, with many branches settling in Australia, North America, and other parts of the globe. Some of the variants became more popular in different parts of the world, such as the Davey name in Australia and North America.

Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin of the Vealey family have existed for centuries, providing a glimpse into the past and evidence of the family’s passage through time.

Famous people with the name Vealey

• Jack Vealey: retired American football player
• Alan Vealey: former American soccer player
• Kevyn Vealey: professional dancer
• John Vealey: former professional baseball player
• Rudy Vealey: retired Major League Baseball outfielder
• Kasey Vealey: American alpine ski racer
• Billy Vealey: former American baseball infeilder
• Knox Vealey: screenwriter
• Alex Vealey: West Indian cricketer
• Mary Jane Vealey: America politician
• Kevin Vealey: halfpipe snowboarder
• Abigail Vealey: businesswoman and winemaker
• Rowan Vealey: journalist and author
• Hal Vealey: American professional golfer
• Emily Vealey: fashion designer
• Chad Vealey: former Canadian soccer player
• Gib Vealey: jazz pianist
• Michael Vealey: Canadian author
• Laine Vealey: reality TV star
• Stephen Vealey: basketball player and coach from New Zealand Many of these famous people have achieved great success in their respective fields, including Jack Vealey, a retired American football player; Knox Vealey, a screenwriter; Hal Vealey, an American professional golfer; Gib Vealey, a jazz pianist; and Michael Vealey, a Canadian author. Other famous Vealeys are Kevyn Vealey, a professional dancer; Mary Jane Vealey, an American politician; Kevin Vealey, a halfpipe snowboarder; Abigail Vealey, a businesswoman and winemaker; Rowan Vealey, a journalist and author; and Emily Vealey, a fashion designer. Among these different members of the Vealey family are also athletes such as Alan Vealey, a former American soccer player; John Vealey, a former professional baseball player; Rudy Vealey, a retired Major League Baseball outfielder; Billy Vealey, a former American baseball infielder; Kasey Vealey, an American alpine ski racer; Chad Vealey, a former Canadian soccer player; and Stephen Vealey, a basketball player and coach from New Zealand.

Other surnames

Veale