Laval is a

French surname French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with France ...

and an alternative spelling of "Duval", which literally translates from French to

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

as "of the valley". It derives from the

Norman Norman or Normans may refer to: Ethnic and cultural identity * The Normans, a people partly descended from Norse Vikings who settled in the territory of Normandy in France in the 10th and 11th centuries ** People or things connected with the Norm ...

"Devall", which has both English and French ties. Variant spellings include: Davolls, Deavall, DeVile, Devill, Deville, Divall, Divell and Evill. Its meaning is derived from the French town of

Deville, Ardennes Deville () is a commune in the Ardennes department and Grand Est region of north-eastern France. Population See also *Communes of the Ardennes department The following is a list of the 449 communes of the Ardennes department of France. ...

. The spelling, "Devall", was first recorded in

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

in the

Domesday Book Domesday Book () – the Middle English spelling of "Doomsday Book" – is a manuscript record of the "Great Survey" of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086 by order of King William I, known as William the Conqueror. The manus ...

. In

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

, variant spellings include: Lavalle, Lavallie, Lavall, Deval, Lavell, Lavelle and Lavielle. The Laval surname has also been spelled some other ways including Duvall, DuVall, DeVall, Devoll, DeVol, DeValle and Devaulle. Notable people with the surname include: * Anne Gilbert de Laval (1762–1810), French general of the Napoleonic Wars *

Billy Laval William Lawrence Laval (January 15, 1885 – January 20, 1957) was an American minor league baseball player, baseball manager, and college baseball, football, and basketball coach. He held head coaching positions at the University of South Carol ...

(1885–1957), American minor league baseball player, baseball manager, and college baseball, football, and basketball coach * Erik de Laval (1888–1973), Swedish modern pentathlete *

François de Laval Francis-Xavier de Montmorency-Laval, commonly referred to as François de Laval (30 April 1623 – 6 May 1708), was a French prelate of the Catholic Church. Consecrated a bishop in 1658, he led the Apostolic Vicariate of New France from 1658 to ...

(1623–1708), the first bishop of Quebec City *

Georg de Laval Patrik Georg Fabian de Laval (16 April 1883 – 10 March 1970) was a Swedish sport shooter and modern pentathlete who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics. He was part of the Swedish team that won the silver medal in the 50 m team military p ...

(1883–1970), Swedish modern pentathlete, brother of Erik and Patrik *

Gustav de Laval Karl Gustaf Patrik de Laval (; 9 May 1845 – 2 February 1913) was a Swedish engineer and inventor who made important contributions to the design of steam turbines and centrifugal separation machinery for dairy. Life Gustaf de Laval was born at ...

(1845–1913), Swedish engineer *

Jacques-Désiré Laval Jacques-Désiré Laval (18 September 1803 – 9 September 1864) was a French Roman Catholic priest who served in the missions in Mauritius; he was a professed member from the Spiritans. He is known as the "Apostle of Mauritius" due to his tirel ...

(1803–1864), French Roman Catholic priest and missionary *

John Laval John Laval (September 21, 1854 – June 4, 1937) was an American bishop of the Catholic Church. He served as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans from 1911 to 1937. Biography Born in Saint-Étienne, Loire, France, Laval was ordained ...

(1854–1937), French-born Catholic bishop in the United States * Patrik de Laval (1886–1974), Swedish modern pentathlete, brother of Erik and Georg *

Pierre Laval Pierre Jean Marie Laval (; 28 June 1883 – 15 October 1945) was a French politician. During the Third Republic, he served as Prime Minister of France from 27 January 1931 to 20 February 1932 and 7 June 1935 to 24 January 1936. He again occ ...

(1883–1945), prime minister of France at various times

References

{{surname French-language surnames