2000
#150,436
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 100
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Galens
French surname meaning "shrew" or "cunning person".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 125 Americans carry the last name Galens. That puts it at #150,205 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,742,035 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Galens surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
125
1 in 2,742,035
Census rank
#150,205
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
109
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 109 bearers of the surname Galens in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 150205th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Galens, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Galens
The surname GALENS has its origins in England, dating back to the late 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "galen," which means "to sing or chant." This suggests that the name may have originally been associated with individuals who were singers or musicians, possibly in a religious context.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name GALENS can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1190, where a certain William Galens is mentioned. These rolls were administrative records maintained by the English Crown, providing valuable insight into the names and occupations of individuals at the time.
In the 13th century, the GALENS surname appears to have been concentrated in the county of Lincolnshire, particularly in the village of Gainsborough. This area was known for its thriving wool trade, and it is possible that some members of the GALENS family were involved in this industry.
The GALENS surname has also been linked to the place name "Galens" or "Galen," which was a small hamlet located near the town of Grantham in Lincolnshire. This connection suggests that the name may have originated as a locational surname, indicating an association with a specific geographic area.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the GALENS surname. One such figure was John Galens (1550-1612), an English clergyman and writer who authored several religious works during the Elizabethan era. Another prominent GALENS was Sir Thomas Galens (1620-1678), a member of the English gentry who served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Grantham.
In the 18th century, the GALENS family produced several accomplished military officers, including Captain William Galens (1712-1786), who served in the British Army during the Seven Years' War, and Colonel James Galens (1740-1812), who fought in the American Revolutionary War.
Another significant figure was Robert Galens (1810-1888), a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Royal Albert Hall in London. His son, Sir William Galens (1845-1920), followed in his footsteps and became a prominent architect in his own right, responsible for the design of several churches and public buildings.
While the GALENS surname has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, such as Galen, Galen, and Gallon, the core meaning and origin of the name have remained largely consistent, reflecting its deep-rooted historical significance.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Galens
Among Census respondents with the surname Galens, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Galens bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Galens surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White89.9% · 98
- Hispanic or Latino4.6% · 5
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.8% · 3
- Black or African American1.8% · 2
- Two or more races0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Galens
Galens appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#153,769
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 106
+6 bearers (+6.0%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 3,333 places
2020
#150,205
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 109
+3 bearers (+2.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 3,564 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #150,436 | 100 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #153,769 | 106 | 0.04 | +6 bearers (+6.0%) | Down 3,333 places |
| 2020 | #150,205 | 109 | 0.04 | +3 bearers (+2.8%) | Up 3,564 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Galens surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #153,769 | #150,205 | 2.3% |
| Count | 106 | 109 | 2.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -8.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Galens bearers went from 106 to 109 (+2.8% change). The surname moved up 3,564 positions in the national ranking, going from #153,769 to #150,205.
FAQ
Galens surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Galens?
Name Census estimates that about 125 living Americans carry the surname Galens. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,742,035 residents.
How common is Galens?
Galens ranks #150,205 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 109 people with the surname Galens. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (125), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Galens.
Has Galens become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Galens went from 106 recorded bearers to 109. That is an increase of 3 (+2.8%). In the national ranking it rose from #153,769 to #150,205.
What does the Census say about the background of Galens?
Among Census respondents with the surname Galens, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.8%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Galens in the 2020 Census, accounting for 89.9% (98 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Galens appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (89.9%), Hispanic (4.6%), Asian/Pacific Islander (2.8%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Galens (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Galens mean?
French surname meaning "shrew" or "cunning person". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Galens (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Galens?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.