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

Gallon, 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 Gallon surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gallon in America

Gallon is the 20099th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gallon surname appeared 1,329 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 Gallon.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gallon 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 Gallon

The surname Gallon is believed to have originated in France, with its roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "galo," which means "bright" or "cheerful." This suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed as a nickname upon someone with a particularly lively or joyful demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a certain "Galo de Ville," indicating the presence of the name in Normandy at that time.

During the 12th century, the name appeared in various forms, including "Galun," "Galoun," and "Galon," reflecting the regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. These variations were often influenced by the local dialects and linguistic particularities of the areas where the name was found.

Notably, the name Gallon was associated with several prominent individuals throughout history. One such figure was Jean Gallon, a French explorer and navigator who lived in the 16th century. He is renowned for his expeditions to the West Indies and his contributions to the development of maritime cartography.

Another noteworthy bearer of the name was Émile Gallon, a French painter and engraver born in 1859. His works, which often depicted scenes from rural life, were highly regarded and exhibited at prestigious venues such as the Salon de Paris.

In England, the name Gallon gained prominence with Sir Douglas Gallon, a British civil engineer and inventor born in 1822. He is best known for his pioneering work in the field of hydraulics and his contributions to the development of the modern flush toilet.

The name Gallon also has ties to certain place names and locations. For instance, the village of Gallon in the Auvergne region of France is believed to have derived its name from the surname, suggesting the presence of early bearers of the name in that area.

Throughout history, the surname Gallon has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, explorers, engineers, and scholars. While the origins of the name may be rooted in a simple nickname, it has since gained a rich tapestry of associations and connections across different cultures and regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gallon

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

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

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

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