This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Vail family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Vail Family History

Vail Surname Meaning

English: occupational name from Old French de la veille ‘of the watch watchman’ with loss of de; compare Wake. There has been some confusion with the topographic name Vale and the nickname Veal.

Scottish: shortened and altered form of McPhail Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Phàil ‘son of Paul’.

Irish: variant of Veale.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Vail family from?

You can see how Vail families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Vail family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Vail families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 94 Vail families living in London. This was about 30% of all the recorded Vail's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Vail families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Vail surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Vail ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Vail. 22% of Vail men worked as a General Labourer and 81% of Vail women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Vail were Lorry Driver and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Vail | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    22%
  • Farm Labourer
    22%
  • Insurance Clerk
    15%
  • Lorry Driver
    15%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    81%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Household Duties (unpaid)
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%

What Vail family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 85,000 census records available for the last name Vail. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Vail census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Vail

Passenger Lists

There are 8,000 immigration records available for the last name Vail. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Vail immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 13,000 military records available for the last name Vail. For the veterans among your Vail ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Vail military records

You've only scratched the surface of Vail family history

Discover More

What is the average Vail lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Vail life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1951, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Vail in 1943 was 57, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Vail

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Vail ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Vail family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial