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

Galbreath, 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 Galbreath surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Galbreath in America

Galbreath is the 6655th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Galbreath surname appeared 5,083 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Galbreath.

We can also compare 2010 data for Galbreath 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.

The history of the last name Galbreath

The surname Galbreath has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the early medieval period. The name is believed to be derived from the Scottish Gaelic words "gall," meaning "stranger" or "foreigner," and "bràth," meaning "judgment" or "betrayal." It is thought to have been a descriptive surname given to someone who was perceived as a foreigner or outsider.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented the individuals who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England during his conquest of Scotland. The name appears as "Gillebrath," which is likely an earlier spelling variation.

In the 14th century, the name was recorded as "Galbraith" in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, indicating the presence of individuals bearing this surname in the country during that time period. The spelling "Galbreath" emerged later, potentially as a result of regional dialect variations or scribal errors.

Notable historical figures with the surname Galbreath include Sir John Galbraith (c. 1330-1380), a Scottish knight and courtier who served under King David II of Scotland. Another prominent individual was James Galbraith (1642-1732), a Scottish minister and author who wrote extensively on theological subjects.

In the 16th century, the Galbreath family was associated with the lands of Balgair and Culcruich in Fife, Scotland. William Galbraith of Balgair (c. 1520-1590) was a respected landowner and influential figure in the local community.

Across the Atlantic, one of the earliest recorded instances of the surname in America was that of John Galbreath (1747-1832), a Scottish immigrant who settled in Pennsylvania and served in the American Revolutionary War.

Other notable individuals with the surname Galbreath include Robert Galbreath (1824-1899), an American businessman and philanthropist who founded the city of Galbreath, Texas, and James Galbreath (1861-1946), a Scottish-born American businessman and politician who served as the 19th Lieutenant Governor of California.

Overall, the surname Galbreath has a rich history rooted in medieval Scotland, with various spelling variations and regional associations emerging over the centuries. Its meaning and origin reflect the complex interplay of language, culture, and societal dynamics that shaped the naming practices of the time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Galbreath

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

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 Galbreath was:

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 Galbreath has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Galbreath was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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