This interesting name is of Olde French pre 10th century origin, and was a Norman introduction after the 1066 Invasion. The name is locational and derives from 'Venelle' and translates as 'the dweller at the small street or alley' as in Michael in la Venele, 1279, The Hundred Rolls of Bedford. The name has four known modern spellings, none are common and they are Vennall, Vennel, Vennell, and Vineall, the latter being a dialectual transposition, possibly from Scotland where the original spelling was Venali (c.1292 in Aberdeen) and later Venella The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Reginald de la Venele which was dated 1240 The Essex Fines Court during the reign of King Henry 111 the Frenchman 1216-1272 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.