Recorded in a number of spelling forms including Dale, Dales and Daile (English), Dahlen, Dahlin and Dalman (Swedish),Thal, Thalman, Dahler and Dallmann (German), Daal, Van Daal, Van Dalen and Daleman (Dutch), Dahl and Dall (Danish) and many others, this ancient surname is of residential origins. It derives from the Scandanavian word 'dalr' meaning a valley, and describes somebody who dwelt in such a place. In England where the surname is first recorded, there was an ancient British tribe called the 'Dallingas', who may also be a source of the surname.
'Dalr' forms the first element in many English place names such as Deal, Dalwood, Dalham, and Dawley, although the more usual name style is as Lonsdale or Wensleydale, with 'dale' as the second element. What is interesting is that the very first recording of the surname anywhere is in the county of Suffolk, in the region known as East Anglia, and here the land is renowned for being almost flat and without valleys, so there may have been an alternative meaning one thousand years ago! The name is also a very early recording in Germany, Lutz up dem Tal being registered in the town of Fussen in the year 1370. Scandanavian recordings are much later, hereditary surnames were the exception rather than the rule until the 18th century. The name was one of the very first in the new American Colonies, and certainly the first with status. Sir Thomas Dale (1560-1619) being Marshall of Virginia in 1609, and Governor from 1611 to 1618. Sir Thomas was responsible for the original land grants to the new settlers from the English Crown. The first known recording of the family name in any form is believed to be that of Ralph de la Dale, which was dated 1275, in the 'Hundred Rolls' of the County of Suffolk. This was during the reign of King Edward 1st, known as 'The Hammer of the Scots', 1272 - 1307. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop", often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
Research into the possible origins of tal leads us to learn more about those who bear this surname. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname tal is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation.
There is a considerable probability that tal has crossed the borders of its place of origin to establish itself, to a greater or lesser extent, in other parts of the world. With all the information we have today, it can be said that the countries where tal is most abundant are the following. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname tal provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations.
The deeds, the way of life, the places they lived, the family relationships they had, the jobs they held by those who were the first to be named tal are found in every look back in the history of this lineage. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname tal, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of tal developed.
It is common for genealogy and surname enthusiasts to provide us with information of special value, so the data we offer about the origins of tal could be modified. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about tal and send it to us, we will update it on this website.
We assume that there have been significant contributions to humanity made by individuals with the surname tal, even though not all have been documented to our present day. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname tal were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. It is our desire to highlight in this section those individuals with the surname tal who, for various reasons, have left their mark on the course of history.
The bibliography collects information related to the surname tal, which allows us to learn more about its meaning. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of tal are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation.
These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of tal, and at the same time, of surnames in general.