De Waal (surname)

De Waal is a Dutch surname with the literal translation "the Walloon". Originally it may have also referred to other southern, non-Germanic and French-speaking persons. A variant, archaic spelling is De Wael. Notable persons with that surname include:


 * De Waal
 * Alex de Waal (born 1963), British social anthropologist and researcher on African issues
 * Anastasia de Waal, British educationist
 * André de Waal (born 1960), Dutch author, assistant professor, business owner and consultant
 * Anna de Waal (1906–1981), Dutch politician
 * Anton de Waal (1837–1917), German Christian archeologist and Roman Catholic church historian
 * Edmund de Waal (born 1964), British ceramic artist
 * Frans de Waal (1948–2024), Dutch ethologist
 * Hugo de Waal (1935–2007) Bishop of Thetford, cousin of Victor
 * Jan Hendrik de Waal Malefijt (1852–1931), Dutch Minister of Colonial Affairs
 * Johan de Waal (born 1949), Namibian politician
 * Kayla de Waal (born 11 June 2000), South African field hockey player
 * Kit de Waal (born 1960) pseudonym of Irish/British writer Mandy O'Loughlin
 * Pieter de Waal (1899–1977), South African military commander
 * Nicolaas Frederic de Waal (1853–1932), Dutch Administrator of the Cape Province in South Africa
 * Rein de Waal (1904–1985), Dutch field hockey player
 * Simon de Waal (born 1961), Dutch script writer
 * Thomas de Waal (born 1966), British journalist
 * Victor de Waal (born 1929), British Anglican priest, father of Alex, Edmund and Thomas
 * Willem de Waal (born 1978), South African rugby union footballer
 * De Wael / Dewael
 * Cornelis de Wael (1592–1667), Flemish painter, engraver and merchant
 * Jan de Wael I (1558–1633), Flemish painter and engraver, father of Cornelis and Lucas
 * Jan Baptist de Wael (1632–1670s), Flemish painter and printmaker in Italy
 * Johan de Wael (1594–1663), Dutch mayor of Haarlem portrayed by Frans Hals
 * Leopold De Wael (1823–1892), Belgian merchant and mayor of Antwerp
 * Lucas de Wael (1591–1661), Flemish painter, engraver and merchant
 * Michiel de Wael (1596–1659), Dutch brewer portrayed by Frans Hals
 * Monique De Wael (born 1937), Belgian-born American author of a fictitious Holocaust memoir
 * Patrick Dewael (born 1955), Belgian politician, Minister-President of Flanders