Explore the Family Name Vales
The meaning of Vales
1. English: variant of Vale, with post-medieval excrescent -s. 2. Catalan (Valès): variant of Vallès (see Valles). 3. Galician: habitational name from any of numerous places called Vales in Galicia (Spain), the plural form of Vale. 4. Czech (Valeš): from a pet form of the personal name Valentin (see Valentine). Some characteristic forenames: Spanish Jose, Carlos, Ricardo, Abilio, Agustin, Aldina, Arturo, Diego, Gonzalez, Jorge, Josefina, Juan Francisco.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Vales in the United States?
Based on the data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Vales has seen a steady increase between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 17,141 in popularity but climbed to 16,071 by 2010, marking a 6.24% rise. The number of people with the surname also increased during this period, growing from 1,526 to 1,802, which is an 18.09% change. Furthermore, its proportion per 100,000 of the population saw a growth rate of 7.02%, moving from 0.57 to 0.61.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #17,141 | #16,071 | 6.24% |
| Count | 1,526 | 1,802 | 18.09% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.57 | 0.61 | 7.02% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Vales
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals some changes in the distribution of ethnic identities associated with the surname Vales from 2000 to 2010. Hispanic identity experienced the most significant increase at 13.19%, rising from 24.71% to 27.97%. The Black community bearing the Vales name also grew by 17.12%, reaching 22.03% in 2010 from 18.81% in 2000. Meanwhile, the percentage of those identifying as White decreased by 11.37%, falling to 38.68% from 43.64%. Those reporting multiple ethnicities fell by 31.67%, and the count for Asian/Pacific Islander slightly declined by 0.58%. American Indian and Alaskan Native representation also decreased by half.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 43.64% | 38.68% | -11.37% |
| Hispanic | 24.71% | 27.97% | 13.19% |
| Black | 18.81% | 22.03% | 17.12% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 8.65% | 8.6% | -0.58% |
| Two or More Races | 3.41% | 2.33% | -31.67% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.79% | 0.39% | -50.63% |