This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Vass.' Of this early personal name I can supply no history.

Vasse le Poynur, Cambridgeshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

1601. Buried — Jone Vasse: Reg. Prestbury, Ches.

1784. Married — Henry Martin and Susan Vass: St. George, Hanover Square.

1800. — Thomas Vass and Mary Plain: ibid.

This surname is derived from a nickname. Vos, a Dutch and Low German form of Fox, which see. (Lower's Patronymica Britannica). Its importation into England is comparatively modern.

1692. Baptised — John, s. David Voss: St. James, Clerkenwell.

1694. — Elizabeth, d. David Voss: ibid.

From Vaux, a common French place name meaning 'the dales' or 'vallies' French vaux, pl. of val, in early Latin charters de Vallibus). In 1199 King John of England confirmed to the Abbey of St. Jean de Falaise the "terrain et feodum de Vallibus" in Normandy. The family of Vaus was settled at Lanercost in Cumberland, and were also in possession of Ashill, Seavington, and Seaborough at the close of the twelfth century (Bates, Chartularies of Muchelney and Athelney, Somerset, London, 1899, p. 79). Wyntoun (v, p. 53) refers to Robertus de Vallibus, lord of Gillesland (A.D.. 1210), an individual who fills a large space in legend and history, as "a wickyt man callit Robert of þe Dalis."

A branch of the English family settled in Scotland in the twelfth century and became proprietors of the lands and barony of Dirleton in East Lothian. Little is known however, of the early history of the family though its members possessed Dirleton for more than two hundred years. John de Vallibus who witnessed a charter by Malcolm IV (LSC., 26) is probably J. de Wall who witnessed the grant by William the Lion of a carucate of Hedenham (Ednam) to the Abbey of Kelso, c. 1174-78 (Kelso, p. 302), and the Johannes de Vans (i.e. Vaus), one of the hostages for the ransom of the king in 1174 (Armais, p. 194). Johannes de Vaus or de Vallibus witnessed a charter of the churches of Moffet, etc., to the bishop of Glasgow, c. 1187 (REG., p. 64), and the gift of Herol (Errol) to William de Haia before 1214 (SCM., II, p. 303). In the reign of William the Lion, William de Vas attested a charter by Eschina domina de Molle (RMP., p. 75), and between 1189-99 Everard de Vallibus witnessed a charter by Robert de London (SCM., IV, p. 243). John de Vallibus, sheriff of Edinburgh between 1214-30 (Neubotle, p. 67), is probably John de Vallibus who appears as charter witness in the chartularies of Kelso, Neubotle, Cambuskenneth, and Levenax, and the John de Vallibus who gifted a croft in Golyn (Gullane) to the church of St. Andrew of Golyn and the canons of Driburcht there. William de Wallibus, 'persona ecclesiae de Congilton,' made a gift to the same church (Dryburgh, p. 20,22, 23). About 1220 William de Vallibus, lord of Dirleton, gave the island of Elbotle (as Fidra was then called) to the Abbey of Dryburgh, and in 1240 Alexander de Vallibus "considerans immenentia pericula temporum quam presentium quam futurorum" released the Abbey from the obligation of maintaining a chantry on the island (Dryburgh). John de Vans who was present in the convention at Briggeham (Birgham) in 1289 (APS., I, p. 441) is doubtless Sir John de Vaus of Edinburghshire who rendered homage in 1296 and had his lands restored to him for his good conduct in the following year (Bain, II, p. 198,244). His seal shows a bend between two cinquefoils, S' Ioh'is de Valibus (Macdonald, 2814). The name travelled early to the north, where we find Willelmus Vaws juror on an inquest concerning the episcopal lands of Aldrochty in 1393 (REM., p. 205). The name was also long and honorably connected with Inverness, appearing there for the first time in 1440 (Invernessiana, p. 110). It is also an old surname in Aberdeen. Andrew Vase was burgess there in 1410 (REA., II, p. 294), and John Waus, alderman in 1430 (RMS., II, 156). Robert of Vaus was master of the ship Nicholas of Aberdene, 1433 (Bain, IV, 1061), and John the Vauss was 'familiar til my lord of Aberdene,' 1476 (SCM., V, p. 25). In Orkney the surname appears in the first half of the sixteenth century as Vas, Vaus, Wais, Was, and Wass (REO.). Walls 1445, Wause 1429, Waux 1568. Tobar Alaidh Bhodhsa, 'Sandy Vass's Well,' is in the parish of Nigg, Ross.

= Vaux, q.v.

A frankeleyn was in his compaignye . . .

A shirreve hadde he been, and a countour [accountant], Was nowher such a worthy vavasour.— Chaucer, Cant. Tales, A 331,359-60.

Vos, a Dutch and Low Germ, form of Fox.

This surname is said by Sir James Dalrymple to be the same with De Vallibus-doubtless through Vaux. In the XII. century this great Anglo-Norman family obtained a footing in Scotland, and were lords of Dirleton, co. Haddington; and from them sprang the Vauses or De Vaux, Lords Dirleton.