Casales is a Spanish surname that is a variant of Casal. The root name Casal derives from the Spanish word casal meaning "farmhouse, country house," ultimately from Late Latin casalis, from Latin casa ("hut, cottage").In the Middle Ages, the term casalis (or casale) referred to a cluster of houses in a rural setting—a word that came into use in the eighth century to denote an isolated rural tenement or demesne. This concept was particularly relevant in western Europe and in the Crusader states, where the casale was a basic village unit, especially in Tuscany from the tenth century onward. These units were stable and discrete, and by the twelfth century, each casale often had a church, fostering social cohesion.The surname Casales and its variants, such as Casal and Casas, are geographically linked to Spanish-speaking regions. An Italian cognate, Casale, exists as well. The surname likely originated as a locational name for someone who lived near or worked at a casal.Meaning: Variant of Casal, meaning "farmhouse, country house"Origin: SpanishType: Locational or topographic surnameRegions: Spain and Spanish-speaking countries