Gallagher
A surname of Irish origin meaning "descendant of Gallchobhar," derived from Gaelic elements meaning "foreign helper."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 81,130 Americans carry the last name Gallagher. That puts it at #479 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 23.67 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 4,225 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Gallagher surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
81K
1 in 4,225
Census rank
#479
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
23.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
70K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 69,834 bearers of the surname Gallagher in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 23.67 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 479th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Gallagher, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Two or More Races (1.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Gallagher
The surname Gallagher is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "O'Gallchobhair", which means "foreign helper" or "foreign auxiliary soldier". It is believed to have originated in the counties of Donegal, Fermanagh, and Tyrone in Ulster province, Ireland, sometime around the 10th or 11th century.
The name is thought to be related to the Old Irish word "gall", meaning "foreigner" or "stranger", and "cobhair", meaning "help" or "assistance". This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who provided assistance to foreigners or worked as a mercenary soldier.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, which mentions a Gallagher clan in the year 1257. Another early reference is in the Pipe Rolls of Cloyne, a record of taxes paid to the English crown, where a "Willelmus O'Galchar" is listed in 1302.
In the 16th century, the Gallagher clan was prominent in County Donegal, and several members are mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters, a renowned historical chronicle. One notable figure was Rory Gallagher, who died in 1586 after being captured by the English during the Nine Years' War.
Other notable individuals with the surname Gallagher include:
1. Brendan Gallagher (born 1992), Canadian professional ice hockey player for the Montreal Canadiens.
2. Liam Gallagher (born 1972), English singer and songwriter, former lead vocalist of the rock band Oasis.
3. Noel Gallagher (born 1967), English singer and songwriter, former lead guitarist and songwriter for Oasis.
4. Rory Gallagher (1948-1995), Irish blues and rock multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter.
5. Tess Gallagher (born 1943), American author, essayist, and poet.
The name Gallagher has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Ballynaglagh (meaning "town of the Gallaghers") in County Donegal and Drumgallagher (meaning "ridge of the Gallaghers") in County Tyrone.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Gallagher
Among Census respondents with the surname Gallagher, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Two or More Races (1.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Gallagher bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Gallagher surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.6%
- Hispanic or Latino2.5%
- Two or more races1.3%
- Black or African American0.7%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Gallagher surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #433 | #479 | -10.6% |
| Count | 68,075 | 69,834 | 2.6% |
| Per 100K | 25.24 | 23.67 | -6.2% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Gallagher bearers went from 68,075 to 69,834 (+2.6% change). The surname moved down 46 positions in the national ranking, going from #433 to #479.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Gallagher
FAQ
Gallagher surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Gallagher?
The surname Gallagher holds position #479 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 81,130 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 23.67 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Gallagher surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Gallagher, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Two or More Races (1.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.