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.^[1] 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 (born 1948), 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