vallon

Vallon is a French term that can refer to a small valley. The word derives from the French vallon, a diminutive of val, and ultimately from Latin vallis, meaning valley. In geographic usage, vallon describes a landscape feature and has been adopted into various place names in French-speaking regions.

In France, Vallon appears in several communes and localities and is part of compound toponyms such as Vallon-Pont-d'Arc, a commune in the Ardèche department known for the Pont d'Arc rock bridge on the Ardèche River. The form is also found in other localities, sometimes as a separate name or within longer designations.

Vallon is also a surname of French origin. It originated as a toponymic surname for people from a place named Vallon or from a valley landscape, and it has since spread to other countries through migration and cultural exchange. In historical records, bearers of the name have appeared in various regions of France and beyond.