VALENTINE
Valentine is a surname of English and Scottish origin that traces its roots to the medieval given name Valentine. The personal name, in turn, was derived from the Latin Valentinus, itself a derivative of the verb valere, meaning “to be strong, to be healthy”. In medieval England the name was uncommon until the late‑12th century, a period that coincided with the growing influence of the French language on the English tongue.
The earliest known appearance of the personal name in English records is in the Curia Rolls of Wiltshire in 1198, where it is recorded as Valentinus. The surname appears for the first time during the mid‑13th century; the earliest documented spelling is Valentyn. The name gained particular prominence through its association with the Christian martyr St. Valentine, whose feast day – February 14th – was linked by medieval writers to a Roman fertility festival and has, over time, become the modern celebration of love.
In addition to the standard spelling Valentine, the surname has been documented in a number of variants, including Valentin, Vallentine, Valintine and Wallentin. Such orthographic diversity reflects the lack of standardised spelling in early English documentary culture and the influence of French scribal conventions.
Several notable ecclesiastical records from London provide further evidence of the use of the surname. Among the most noteworthy are the marriage of Alexander Valentine to Sarah Hackman on 18 September 1723 at St. Katherine in the Tower, and the union of Donald Valentine with Ealer Boyd on 14 February 1741 at St. George's, Hanover Square, Westminster. These entries attest to the surname’s continued use in the early modern period.
A family bearing the name Valentine in Hereford was granted a Coat of Arms in which the shield is black, positioned upon a silver chevron that bears three black lions’ heads erased. The crest features an ermine demihorse (a Pegasus) salient and erased, encircled by a gold ducal coronet. This heraldic badge was recorded in the heraldic rolls of the late 17th century.
William H. Davies (2009) notes that the name Valentine is often found in English-speaking countries and is associated with individuals who possess a connection to the historical and cultural significance of the name. The surname’s endurance across centuries reflects both its venerable Latin roots and its persistent association with the Christian martyrism of St. Valentine.
Typical given names associated with the Valentine surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
- William
Female
- Elizabeth
- Helen
- Jacqueline
- Jane
- Julie
- Laura
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Vallentine
- Valentin
- Valantine
- Valantin
- Valentina
- Valandine
- Valantinas
- Valendine
- Valent
- Valente
- Valenti
- Valentia
- Valentic
- Valentik
- Valentim
- Valentiner
- Valenting
- Valentini
- Valentino
- Valentiny
- Valenton
- Valentyn
- Valentyne
- Valetine
- Valiente
- Valintine
- Vallantine
- Vallent
- Vallentin
- Vallentyne
- Vallintine
- Vantine
- Velentine
- Vollentine
- Valante
- Valantinaite
- Valence
- Valendeine
- Valenta
- Valentinas
- Valentinova
- Valentins
- Valento
- Vallente
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Valentine in...
Braille
⠧⠁⠇⠑⠝⠞⠊⠝⠑
Morse
...-.-.-...-.-..-..
Semaphore
Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Valentine are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Fox's Chocolate Wheel.
There are approximately 9,063 people named Valentine in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,041st most common surname in Britain. Around 139 in a million people in Britain are named Valentine.
Surname type: From given name or forename
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Valentine
- Steve Valentine - Actor
- Anthony Valentine - Actor (1939 to 2015)
- Hilton Valentine - Musician
- Dickie Valentine - Singer (1929 to 1971)
- Susan Valentine - Actress
- Ryan Valentine - Football player
- Bob Valentine - Scottish football player
- Jo Valentine, Baroness Valentine - Baroness
- James Valentine - Scottish photographer (1815 to 1879)
- Carl Valentine - Canadian soccer player
- Bryan Valentine - Cricket player of England. (1908 to 1983)
- Peter Valentine - Football player
- Bullet for My Valentine - Singer
- Penny Valentine - Music journalist (1943 to 2003)
- David H. Valentine - Botanist (1912 to 1987)
- James Valentine - Aviator (1887 to 1917)
- Bob Valentine - Football player and rugby league player (1877 to 1926)
- Cheryl Valentine - Scottish field hockey player
- Shirli-Ann Valentine - Tennis player
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.