De Bál

de BÁL—XI—de Val, de Vale, de Vaal, de Wale, Wall; Norman 'du Val,' i.e. of the vale, or valley, from residence therein. This surname dates back at least to the 13th century, and is found in many parts of Ireland. In 1335, John de Vale and Walter de Vale were among those summoned to attend Sir John D'Arcy on his expedition to Scotland. In the same century three bishops of the name filled Irish Sees, among whom was Stephen de Wale who became Bishop of Limerick in 1360, and was afterwards translated to Meath and made Lord High Treasurer of Ireland. The Walls were numerous and respectable in the 16th century in Kildare, Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Cork, Limerick and Galway, and in the last-named county appear to have formed a distinct clan after the Irish fashion, with a chief of the name. In Limerick, the Walls held the manor of Dunmoylan from the 13th century down to 1580 when Ulick de Wale, although blind from his birth, was shamefully put to death by Pelham, and his lands confiscated.

Alphabetical Index to Irish Surnames