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

Galloway, 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 Galloway surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Galloway in America

Galloway is the 1002nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Galloway surname appeared 34,909 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 12 people would have the surname Galloway.

We can also compare 2010 data for Galloway 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 Galloway

The surname Galloway has its origins in the region of Galloway in southwestern Scotland. It is derived from the Brittonic term "Gallovid" or "Gallwyddel," which translates to "non-Welsh stranger" or "foreign Gael." This suggests that the name was initially used to refer to individuals of Gaelic origin living in the area.

Galloway was an important region in medieval Scotland, with its own lords and a distinct cultural identity. The name Galloway first appears in historical records in the 12th century, when it was used to refer to the people and the territory of Galloway. One notable early reference is in the Chronicon Cumbriense, a 12th-century chronicle that mentions the "Galweienses" or people of Galloway.

The earliest recorded individual with the surname Galloway is William de Galloway, who lived in the 13th century and held lands in Galloway. Another prominent figure was Alan de Galloway, who was the Lord of Galloway in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. He was a powerful nobleman and played a significant role in Scottish politics during the reigns of King William the Lion and King Alexander II.

In the 14th century, the surname appears in various forms, including Galoway, Galluway, and Gallua. One notable bearer of the name during this period was Sir James Galloway, a Scottish knight who fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence alongside Robert the Bruce.

The surname Galloway has also been associated with several place names in Scotland, such as Galloway Forest Park, Galloway Hills, and the town of Galloway in Ayrshire. These place names likely contributed to the spread and popularity of the surname throughout Scotland.

Other notable individuals with the surname Galloway include:

1. Joseph Galloway (1730-1803), a prominent American politician and loyalist during the American Revolutionary War.
2. Archibald Galloway (1796-1850), a Scottish engineer and inventor who developed the first commercially successful hot air engine.
3. Thomas Galloway (1796-1851), a Scottish mathematician and educator who taught at the University of Edinburgh.
4. Mary Galloway (1858-1924), an American educator and suffragist who advocated for women's rights and education.
5. George Galloway (born 1954), a British politician and former member of parliament known for his outspoken views on foreign policy and his involvement in the anti-war movement.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Galloway

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

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

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

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