Surname Venable - Meaning and Origin

Venable: What does the surname Venable mean?

The last name Venable stems from French origins and is derived from the Old French word "venable", meaning "huntable" or "pursuable". It is believed to be an occupational surname given to individuals or families who were hunters or trappers by profession. It may also be a variant of the French surname "Vaneau" meaning "little vein", metaphorically referring to a small watercourse. In some instances, Venable can also be associated with the Roman goddess of hunting, Venus. As with many surnames, the specific meaning can vary due to regional variations and historical usage. Overall, Venable is a distinguished name with an ancient, noble history.

Venable: Where does the name Venable come from?

The last name Venable is a relatively uncommon name in the United States today. It is more common in the southern part of the country, particularly in Virginia and North Carolina. In Virginia, the name is most common in the counties that make up the Richmond metropolitan area, including Richmond City, Henrico, Chesterfield, and Hanover counties. In North Carolina, the name is found in a few scattered counties throughout the state and is more common in the eastern parts of the state, near the coast. The name is also found throughout the rest of the south, including Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, and Alabama. The name is also found in small concentrations in other parts of the country, including California, New York, and Illinois.

In addition to the United States, the surname Venable is also found in other parts of the world, although it is most common in Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom and in Ireland. In the United Kingdom, the surname is most common in the Welsh counties of Monmouthshire and Glamorgan. In Ireland, the surname is most common in Co. Cork and Co. Kilkenny.

Variations of the surname Venable

The surname Venable has many different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These variants include: Venables, Vennable, Vennables, Vennel, Venell, Vennell, Vennil, Vinnell, Vinnel, Vinnil, and Venil.

The Harrison Survey of Surnames (1900) records Venable as a variation on the descriptive English surname Vennable. The meaning of the name, derived from the Old English, is a person who lived by a fen. The original "Vennable" was also sometimes used as a surname in the 16th century.

In Scotland, the name has had several spelling variations. Venables, Venell, Vinnil, Vinnell, Vennel, and Vennil were all used in Scotland in the 16th and 17th centuries. The spelling "Venable" was also present.

Variations on the surname Venable are mostly limited to Great Britain and adjacent areas with historical British influence. Over the years, the spelling of the name has changed depending on language, culture, and the individual who used it. Because of its origin as a descriptive surname, however, each of these variations is part of the same family.

Famous people with the name Venable

• Katherine Venable: American television writer and producer who wrote for shows like Law & Order: SVU, Bones, and Private Practice
• William Venable: retired lieutenant general in the United States Air Force
• Edmund Ruffin Venable: an eminent horticulturist and the first professor of horticulture in the United States
• Julius Venable: Hall of Fame college football coach at Auburn University
• Robert Venable: American soldier in World War I, recipient of the Medal of Honor
• John Venable: American professional baseball player in the late 1800s
• Amanda Venable: British poet and novelist
• Phyllis Venable: American writer, actress and television director
• Robert Harlin Venable Sr.: American fundamentalist Presbyterian minister, author, and educator
• Holly Venable: American voice actress, most notable for providing the voice of Sally Brown in several Peanuts specials.

Other surnames

VenablVenables