VAUX

Vaux is a surname of dual provenance, deriving simultaneously from English and French linguistic roots. The name can be recognised across the British Isles and in continental Europe, reflecting the complex historical migration patterns that have shaped its distribution.

In its English form the name is linked to the Old English word fald or falds, which denotes a fold or enclosure. It was habitually applied to individuals who resided near a sheepfold or cattle enclosure, thereby signifying a person’s association with a specific pastoral landscape. The surname may also have been applied to those living in valleys, an application that follows from the French origin of the word.

The French derivation of Vaux comes from the Old French val, meaning valley. The name was introduced into England at least twice. First, during the Norman Conquest of 1066, following the arrival of William the Conqueror and his followers; second, from the sixteenth century through Huguenot refugees who carried the name into England. In the Domesday Book of 1086 the name appears as de Vaux, sometimes recorded as de Vals, de Valibus and de Wals. These entries confirm the locational nature of the surname, referring to settlements in the Normandy region of France, many of which were known simply as Vaux or Veaux.

Early English records also contain variations such as D'Vaux, D'Avaux, Devo, Devot, Devoy, Devoye and others. Notably, an example surviving from 1275 cites Agnes le Vaus of Worcestershire, suggesting the existence of a separate nickname derivation from the Middle English word faus (false). In the south of England the letter v was used in place of f, a spelling convention that is evident in such instances.

Members of the Vaux family have been documented throughout the history of the United Kingdom and beyond. A prominent figure, John Vaux, is recorded as having embarked on the ship Roe Buck of London bound for Barbados in 1679. The surname appears in a variety of continental contexts as well. In France the name is still common in northern regions such as Normandy, Champagne, Picardy and Brittany, reflecting its original locational reference to valleys or castles. In Canada there is a significant concentration, particularly in Quebec, where the modern pronunciation “Voh” is frequent. In the United States the surname is mainly found in New England, especially Massachusetts and Rhode Island, a distribution that echoes the earlier 17th‑century migration of French and Canadian families.

Numerous orthographic variants illustrate the evolution of the name: DeVaux, DeVau, De Vaux, Veaux, as well as Vallis, Valles, Valle, Vallée, Valli, Vaulx, Vaulxe, Vauxe, Valk, Valke and Vaulk. These variants are found across England, Scotland, Ireland, France and North America, but all share a common etymological source rooted in the sense of a valley or an enclosed area.

Across the centuries, the name Vaux has been associated with both civil and ecclesiastical records, reflecting the Christian religious milieu of the regions in which it appears. It has also been linked to the English aristocracy through its Norman antecedents, where the de Vaux line held seats in various counties and northern England. Present-day bearers of the name are often cognisant of this heritage and retain a sense of pride in their Norman and British connections.

Typical given names associated with the Vaux surname

Male

• Alan
• Andrew
• Bryan
• David
• James
• John
• Michael
• Nicholas
• Paul
• Philip
• Richard

Female

• Amanda
• Emma
• Helen
• Jacqueline
• Jane
• Jean
• Julie
• Margaret
• Nicola
• Sandra
• Sarah
• Susan
• Victoria

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

How to communicate the surname Vaux in...

Braille

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Morse

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Semaphore

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Famous people named Vaux

• Marc Vaux - Artist
• Thomas Vaux, 2nd Baron Vaux of Harrowden - Poet and Baron (1509 to 1556)

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.

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