NameCensus.

UK surname

Galea

An occupational surname likely referring to someone from Malta or a helmet maker.

In the 1881 census there were 7 people recorded with the Galea surname, ranking it #32,765 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 741, ranked #7,368, up from #32,765 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cotswold, Allerdale and Cardiff.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Galea is 748 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10485.7%.

1881 census count

7

Ranked #32,765

Modern count

741

2016, ranked #7,368

Peak year

2015

748 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Galea had 7 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,765 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 741 in 2016, ranked #7,368.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 9 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Galea surname distribution map

The map shows where the Galea surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Galea surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Galea over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1881 historical 7 #32,765
1891 historical 8 #33,550
1901 historical 9 #33,154
1911 historical 8 #32,903
1997 modern 579 #8,354
1998 modern 616 #8,240
1999 modern 645 #8,007
2000 modern 640 #8,031
2001 modern 639 #7,896
2002 modern 663 #7,826
2003 modern 651 #7,825
2004 modern 654 #7,796
2005 modern 656 #7,716
2006 modern 675 #7,585
2007 modern 690 #7,507
2008 modern 692 #7,552
2009 modern 724 #7,434
2010 modern 736 #7,479
2011 modern 719 #7,537
2012 modern 707 #7,550
2013 modern 723 #7,545
2014 modern 739 #7,469
2015 modern 748 #7,315
2016 modern 741 #7,368

Geography

Back to top

Where Galeas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cotswold, Allerdale, Cardiff, Tower Hamlets and Rochford. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cotswold 011 Cotswold
2 Allerdale 008 Allerdale
3 Cardiff 037 Cardiff
4 Tower Hamlets 019 Tower Hamlets
5 Rochford 006 Rochford

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Galea

These lists show first names that appear often with the Galea surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Galea

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Galea, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Galea surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Galea household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Galea is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Galea is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Galea falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Galea is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Galea, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Galea

The surname Galea has its origins in Italy, specifically in the regions of Sicily and Calabria. It is believed to have emerged during the 14th century and is derived from the Italian word "galea," which means a type of galley or war vessel common in the Mediterranean during that era.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Galea can be found in the Sicilian town of Messina, where a record from 1387 mentions a nobleman named Filippo Galea. This suggests that the name was already well-established among the aristocracy of the region by the late 14th century.

In the 16th century, the Galea surname appears in various historical documents from the island of Malta, where many families with Italian roots had settled. The Maltese National Archives contain records of several Galea families, indicating their presence on the island during this period.

One notable individual with the surname Galea was Fra Giovanni Galea, a Knight of the Order of St. John, who was born in Malta in 1585. He played a significant role in defending the island against Ottoman invasions and is remembered for his bravery and military prowess.

During the 17th century, the Galea name spread to other parts of Europe, including Spain and France, as Italian families migrated and settled in these regions. One such individual was Miguel Galea, a Spanish military officer born in 1642 who served in the Spanish army and participated in several campaigns against the French.

In the 18th century, a branch of the Galea family established itself in the Calabrian town of Reggio, where they became prominent landowners and merchants. Paolo Galea, born in 1723, was a successful businessman and philanthropist who funded the construction of a church and several public buildings in the town.

As the Galea surname continued to spread, it also found its way to other parts of the world, including the Americas and Australia, through immigration and exploration. One notable figure was Antonio Galea, an Italian explorer born in 1810 who led several expeditions to South America and is credited with mapping parts of the Amazon rainforest.

Throughout history, the Galea surname has been associated with various professions, including the military, clergy, business, and academia. While its origins can be traced back to the Italian regions of Sicily and Calabria, the name has since become more widespread and can be found in many parts of the world today.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Galea families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Galea surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Hampshire leads with 5 Galeas recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.08x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 5 25.08x
Royal Navy 3 258.62x
Essex 1 5.21x
Glamorgan 1 5.90x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ryde in Hampshire leads with 5 Galeas recorded in 1881 and an index of 1162.79x.

Place Total Index
Ryde 5 1162.79x
Royal Navy 3 303.03x
Cardiff St John 1 181.82x
Maldon St Peter 1 1000.00x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Galea surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Blossom 1
Jane 1
Mannelea 1
Mary 1
Rosa 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Galea surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Ammabile 1
Guiseppe 1
Paolo 1
Silvatore 1
William 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Galea households.

FAQ

Galea surname: questions and answers

How common was the Galea surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7 people were recorded with the Galea surname. That placed it at #32,765 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Galea surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 741 in 2016. That gives Galea a modern rank of #7,368.

What does the Galea surname mean?

An occupational surname likely referring to someone from Malta or a helmet maker.

What does the Galea map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Galea bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.