Vail (surname)

Vail is a surname with several possible origins. It can be of English, French, or German derivation.

Possible Origins:

• English: It may be a topographic name for someone who lived in a valley, derived from the Middle English "vale" or "vaile," meaning "valley."
• French: It could be a variant of the French surname "Veil," itself derived from the Old French word "veil" meaning "watch" or "wake," potentially denoting a watchman or someone who kept guard.
• German: Possibly derived from a shortened form of a Germanic personal name containing the element "wig," meaning "war" or "battle."

Distribution:

The surname Vail is found primarily in English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Notable People with the Surname Vail:

• Alfred Vail (1807–1859): An American machinist and inventor who was instrumental in developing the telegraph system along with Samuel Morse.
• Theodore Newton Vail (1845–1920): An American telephone industry executive who served as the president of AT&T.
• David Vail (contemporary): Economist specializing in local resilience.

Variations:

Possible variations of the surname include Vale, Veil, and Valle.

See Also:

• Etymology
• Onomastics
• List of surnames