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

Galey, 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 Galey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Galey in America

Galey is the 20601st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Galey surname appeared 1,286 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 Galey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Galey 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 Galey

The surname Galey originated in France, likely in the 12th or 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "galer," meaning "to divert or amuse." This suggests that the name may have initially been given to a jester, entertainer, or someone with a lively personality.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a Robert Galye is mentioned as a resident of Oxfordshire, England. This indicates that the name had already spread to other parts of Europe by that time.

The Galey surname is also closely linked to several place names in France, such as Galey in the Auvergne region and Gailley in the Franche-Comté region. These place names likely influenced the spelling variations of the surname, including Galy, Galley, and Gayley.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the name was John Galey (c. 1528-1594), an English Protestant reformer and Bishop of Bangor. He played a significant role in the religious and political struggles of the time.

Another prominent individual was Sir Samuel Galey (1685-1761), a British naval officer and Member of Parliament. He served in several notable battles during the War of the Spanish Succession and later became the Governor of Newfoundland.

In the 19th century, Charles Galey (1822-1893) was a French painter and engraver renowned for his landscapes and scenes of rural life. His works were exhibited at the Paris Salon and are held in various museum collections.

Across the Atlantic, John Galey (1792-1859) was an American politician and lawyer who served as a U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania in the 1830s and 1840s.

Another notable figure was William Galey (1875-1953), an English cricketer who played for Hampshire County Cricket Club and represented England in four Test matches between 1899 and 1902.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the Galey surname throughout history, showcasing its diverse origins and presence across different regions and professions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Galey

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

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

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

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