Surname DeVault - Meaning and Origin

DeVault: What does the surname DeVault mean?

DeVault is a surname of French origin, originally derived from the old French word "de val," which literally means "of the valley." The name was likely first used to describe people from the valleys of France who adopted it as their family name.

In the Middle Ages, the valleys of France were often home to rustic homes and farms, which could have been owned by those who took the name DeVault. Over time, this family name began to be more widely used across the country, eventually spreading to other parts of Europe and around the world.

Today, the surname DeVault is particularly common in France, but is still present in countries such as the United States, Canada, England, and Germany. It is also pronounced differently in different countries, with some Americanized pronunciations being "dev-all" or "duh-vawlt."

While the exact origin of the name is unknown, it does give an indication of the lifestyle likely followed by those who had it. Its use likely signified a connection to farming or living in a rural valley, so could be a good indicator of family history.

DeVault: Where does the name DeVault come from?

The last name DeVault is most commonly found in the United States today. According to the Social Security Administration, it is the 8,981st most common name in the U.S., with 2,015 people holding the DeVault surname. Most of those people live in the central and midwest regions of the country, around Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri.

It is also present in small numbers in other parts of the world, primarily in the United Kingdom, France, Canada and Australia. Its presence in these countries is likely due to emigrations from the U.S. in the 19th and 20th centuries.

The origin of the DeVault surname is French, reportedly from a word meaning "valley." It is likely that the name was given to a family whose ancestor lived in a valley, or who owned land there. The spelling has changed over the centuries, from DeVaux and DaVault to the modern DeVault.

The earliest known instance of a DeVault ancestor was a farmer in the early 1700's in Province of Pennsylvania. It is likely that the DeVault family moved on from this region, either due to famine or to seek better opportunities. As such, it is unclear how the name spread from Pennsylvania to its current distribution.

Variations of the surname DeVault

The surname DeVault is of French origin, and it has a few variants based on its spelling and surnames derived from it.

The most common variant of DeVault is De Vaux, which has the same origin but with an additional space and capitalization used to differentiate it. De Vaux is commonly seen in England, Ireland, and Scotland. Another variant is De Vault, which is the most common spelling used in the United States.

Some other variants for the surname DeVault include (but are not limited to): Devault, Devalt, Devaulx, De Vaild, De Val, De Vaulte, De Valle, DeVaulte, and DeVal.

In addition to its various spellings, surnames derived from the DeVault surname include: DeVault, DeVedience, DeVore, DeValle, Devalley, Devally, Deveault, Develle, and Devlin.

The most common variant, De Vaux, is also the source of some similarly-spelled surnames used in England and Scotland, such as Devaughan, Devaux, Devos, and De Vos.

Overall, the DeVault surname has many variants and derived surnames, with a few of those being widely used in different countries and regions.

Famous people with the name DeVault

• Bobby DeVault: Professional football player.
• Steve DeVault: Major League Baseball player.
• Ed DeVault: Country Music singer-songwriter.
• Chris DeVault: retired Major League Baseball player.
• Mike DeVault: former professional soccer player.
• Ray DeVault: former professional basketball player.
• Craig DeVault: NFL football player.
• Timothy DeVault: former NFL football player.
• David DeVault: professional golfer.
• Mary DeVault: American theatre actress.
• Bill DeVault: former professional baseball player.
• Jolleen DeVault: American softball player.
• Joe DeVault: former professional soccer player.
• Julie DeVault: professional snowboarder.
• Victor DeVault: professional swimmer.
• Michelle DeVault: former figure skater.
• Zack DeVault: former professional basketball player.
• Jeff DeVault: former professional baseball player.
• Evan DeVault: former American football player.
• Ed DeVault Jr: professional bull rider.

Other surnames

DevaugerméDevaul