Surname Laval - Meaning and Origin

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Laval: What does the surname Laval mean?

The last name Laval is a French surname of aristocratic origins. It is believed to be derived from the ancient French word for "valley" or "vale".

The name likely refers to a family of nobles who descended from a person or family that lived near a valley, or from a place known as Laval or Le Val in Normandy. The town of Laval, France, is also named after this ancient name.

The earliest known person with the last name Laval is Guillaume de Laval, born in 1050 in Normandy. He was a nobleman and military commander from a powerful family and was one of the first signers of the Magna Carta.

Over the centuries, the Lavals have moved within France and around the world. The family name has also changed over time and in various cultures.

The name is most commonly associated with prominent French noble families, although the name is also found in England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Canada, and the United States.

The Laval surname has come to symbolize the family's legacy of nobility and resilience. The name is often linked to the concept of pride, honor, and the never-ending pursuit of power and prestige.

Laval: Where does the name Laval come from?

The last name Laval is most commonly found in France today, with a significant number of bearers located in Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, and the United States.

In France, the last name Laval has a long and rich history. The earliest known record of the Laval family comes from the year 1080, when a monk named Walterius de Valle was mentioned in a document from the Abbey of Saint-Bertin. By 1690, the family had become quite prominent in the regions of Normandy and Anjou, with several branches appearing in the north of the country.

The cities of Laval, Angers, Chateau-Gontier, Mayenne, and St. Bertin bear the Laval name to this day. This is due to the fact that many of the Laval descendants held prominent positions within the Catholic Church as well as the armies of various French rulers. Through marriages and land acquisitions, the last name spread throughout the Loire Valley region.

Today, there are several thousand people bearing the name Laval living in France. According to the 2019 Office National d'Étpreuve de Fichier data banks, Laval is the 70th most common last name in France, with an estimated 17,912 people bearing the name.

Outside of France, Laval is quite common in Canada, where a city located in the province of Quebec also bears the name. It is estimated that there are over 19,000 people with the Laval last name living in Quebec. It is similarly popular in Belgium and Switzerland, where there are more than 15,000 bearers of the name. The Laval name is also found in significant numbers in several other countries, including the United States. The estimated population of Laval in the US is close to 5,000 people.

Variations of the surname Laval

The surname Laval is generally believed to have originated in Brittany, France. There are a number of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, which vary slightly depending on geographic region. Generally, variations of Laval include Lavalle, Lavallée, Lavelle, La Val, Lavalette, Lavell, and Lavale. Spellings may also vary, with Lavale, Lavall, Lavalle, and Levall being some of the most common.

Laval can also be found in other regions and countries throughout Europe, including Germany, Poland, Italy, Romania, Spain, and parts of Scandinavia. Variants of the surname found in these areas include Louval in Germany, Lewall in Poland, Lavalli in Italy, Lavalu in Romania, Laval in Spain, Lavalli in Scandinavia, and Levall in Portugal.

Some of the most common alternate surnames of Laval are Lavan, Lavigne, Lavielle, Lavoie, Lowe, and Lowrie. These other surnames may have derived from people who were given 'nicknames' or assumed the name of their birthplace or area of origin. For example, someone from a region called 'Laval' may have used Laval as their surname, thus leading to a spelling or variation.

Other surnames derived from Laval may be due to religious or ethnic affiliation or patronage, such as Latin-specific Lavall, Lavoie, and Lavan. There is also speculation that Laval may have been derived from a topographical term, such as larose (meaning 'rose valley').

Overall, there are a number of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Laval. Depending on the geographic region, these may differ slightly or may have derived from similar sources.

Famous people with the name Laval

• Paul Laval: French World War I and WW2 General
• Henri Laval: French Politician
• Lucien Laval: French Alt-Right Politician
• Auguste Laval: Spanish Navy Officer and politician
• Pierre Laval: French politician associated with Vichy France
• Jean Laval: French Philosopher and Sociologist
• Ferdinand Laval: French Inventor of Various Agricultural Machines
• Augustin Laval: French Painter
• Émile Laval: French Politician and Minister
• Charles Laval: French Symbolist Painter
• Alicia Laval: French Model and Actress
• Marie Laval: French Actress
• Jean-Yves Laval: French Comic Book Writer, Writer and Editor
• Joséphine Laval: French Painter
• Jacques Laval: French Film Producer
• Claude Laval: French Polyphonic composer
• Louis Laval: French Composer and Songwriter
• Patrice Laval: French Stage and Film Director
• Claude Laval-Mirecourt: French Composer and Violinist
• Auguste Laval-Beaupré: French Politician
• Pierre-Olivier Laval: French Television and Film Director

Other surnames

LavallLavallinLavanLavarack