Dale is a topographical name deriving from the Middle English "Dale" which traces its roots to the Olde English term "dael" or "dweller in the valley". Dale may also be habitational in origin, arising from any of the numerous locations called by this word; as seen in the names of such places as Dalwood (Dorset) Dalham (Kent) and Dawley (Worcestershire). The variant "Deal" comes from the Kentish form "del" which is also the name of a place in Kent, Sir Thomas Dale (deceased 1619) served as Naval Commander in the Low Countries and was Governor of Virginia (1611 and 1614 - 1616). On October 6th, 1588 Elizabeth Dale married one Edward Chambers at Kingston, Kent and in 1597, John Dale married Marye Prescod on October 10th at Goodnestone-by-Sandwich, Kent. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William en le Dale, which was dated 1318, in the "Sheffield Manoral Records", during the reign of King Edward 11, known as "Edward of Caernafon", 1307 - 1327. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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