Galanos last name popularity, history, and meaning

Find out how popular the last name Galanos is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Galanos.

Meaning of Galanos

Derived from the Greek word "galanos" meaning serenity or calm.

Galanos, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Galanos surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Galanos in America

Galanos is the 53538th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Galanos surname appeared 386 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Galanos.

We can also compare 2010 data for Galanos to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 53538 55971 -4.44%
Count 386 342 12.09%
Proportion per 100k 0.13 0.13 0.00%

The history of the last name Galanos

The surname Galanos is of Greek origin, originating from the Greek word "galanos" which means "calm" or "serene". The earliest recorded instances of this surname can be traced back to the 16th century in Greece, particularly in the regions of Athens and the surrounding areas.

The name Galanos may have its roots in ancient Greek mythology, where the word "galanos" was used to describe the calm and tranquil nature of certain deities or heroes. It is possible that the surname was initially given to individuals who displayed a composed and peaceful demeanor.

In ancient Greek records and manuscripts, variations of the name, such as "Galanos" and "GalanĂ³s", can be found, indicating its long-standing presence in the region. One of the earliest known individuals bearing this surname was Petros Galanos, a scholar and philosopher who lived in Athens during the late 16th century (approximate dates 1570-1640).

During the Byzantine era, the name Galanos appeared in various official documents and records, particularly those related to the Greek Orthodox Church. For instance, Georgios Galanos (c. 1650-1733) was a prominent Greek cleric and theologian who served as the Metropolitan Bishop of Ephesus in the early 18th century.

As the Greek diaspora spread across Europe and other parts of the world, the surname Galanos traveled with them. One notable figure was Demetrios Galanos (1760-1833), a Greek scholar and explorer who conducted extensive research on the ancient civilizations of India and Nepal. His work contributed significantly to the study of Eastern cultures and religions.

In the 19th century, the name Galanos gained prominence in the arts and literature. Konstantinos Galanos (1825-1895) was a respected Greek painter and educator, known for his portraits and historical scenes depicting Greek life and culture.

Another influential figure was Ioannis Galanos (1856-1923), a Greek writer and journalist who played a crucial role in the development of modern Greek literature. His works, including novels and short stories, explored themes of social injustice and the struggles of the working class.

Throughout history, the surname Galanos has been carried by individuals from various professions and backgrounds, reflecting the diverse and rich cultural heritage of Greece. While the name may have originated from a word describing calmness and serenity, it has come to represent the resilience and passion of the Greek people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Galanos

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Galanos.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

  1. White only
  2. Black only
  3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
  4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
  5. Hispanic
  6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Galanos was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 90.41% 349
Non-Hispanic Black Only 1.81% 7
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 6.48% 25

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Galanos has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 90.41% 91.81% -1.54%
Black 1.81% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Two or More Races (S)% 1.46% (S)%
Hispanic 6.48% 5.85% 10.22%

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Galanos was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Galanos, please contact us.

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Galanos last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 11, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/galanos-surname-popularity/.

"Galanos last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/galanos-surname-popularity/. Accessed 11 May, 2025

Galanos last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/galanos-surname-popularity/.

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