NameCensus.

UK surname

Galer

A surname derived from the Middle English word "galier", meaning a leper or leper hospital resident.

In the 1881 census there were 222 people recorded with the Galer surname, ranking it #12,022 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 334, ranked #13,640, down from #12,022 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Girton, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wirral, Sunderland and Breckland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Galer is 370 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 50.5%.

1881 census count

222

Ranked #12,022

Modern count

334

2016, ranked #13,640

Peak year

1998

370 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Galer had 222 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,022 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 334 in 2016, ranked #13,640.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 333 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Galer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Galer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Galer 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
1851 historical 143 #13,343
1861 historical 144 #15,817
1881 historical 222 #12,022
1891 historical 258 #12,440
1901 historical 313 #11,319
1911 historical 333 #10,624
1997 modern 369 #11,690
1998 modern 370 #12,052
1999 modern 366 #12,225
2000 modern 362 #12,264
2001 modern 354 #12,274
2002 modern 356 #12,449
2003 modern 341 #12,655
2004 modern 346 #12,544
2005 modern 327 #13,011
2006 modern 329 #13,044
2007 modern 330 #13,142
2008 modern 338 #13,044
2009 modern 331 #13,483
2010 modern 342 #13,440
2011 modern 342 #13,314
2012 modern 348 #13,020
2013 modern 349 #13,215
2014 modern 348 #13,320
2015 modern 345 #13,312
2016 modern 334 #13,640

Geography

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Where Galers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Girton, London parishes, Gateshead and Loddon. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wirral, Sunderland, Breckland and Waveney. 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 Girton Cambridgeshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Loddon Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wirral 011 Wirral
2 Sunderland 008 Sunderland
3 Breckland 006 Breckland
4 Waveney 010 Waveney
5 Waveney 011 Waveney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Galer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Galer

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Galer, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Galer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Galer household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Galer is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Galer is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Galer falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Galer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Galer

The surname Galer originated in Germany, with its earliest known records dating back to the 12th century. The name is believed to derive from the Old German word "gāl," meaning "loud" or "noisy," suggesting that the name may have been initially bestowed upon someone with a boisterous or outspoken personality.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various German records, often spelled as "Galer" or "Galler." One of the earliest documented instances of the name can be found in the Codex Diplomatus, a collection of historical manuscripts from the region of Saxony, where a certain "Heinrich Galer" is mentioned in a land transaction dated 1268.

As the name spread throughout Germany, it evolved into several variations, such as "Gahler," "Gaehler," and "Gehler." These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and scribal interpretations.

The surname Galer has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One of the earliest was Johannes Galer, a German scholar and theologian born in 1532 in Saxony. He was a prominent figure in the Protestant Reformation and authored several treatises on religious doctrine.

In the 17th century, the name appeared in the records of the Thirty Years' War, with a certain "Hans Galer" listed as a soldier in the German army. This conflict, which lasted from 1618 to 1648, played a significant role in shaping the political and religious landscape of Europe.

Another notable bearer of the Galer name was Johann Galer, a German artist and engraver born in 1708 in Nuremberg. His intricate etchings and engravings were highly regarded during his lifetime and are now considered important works of the Baroque period.

In the 19th century, the name gained prominence in the field of science with the birth of August Friedrich Galer, a German chemist and professor at the University of Göttingen. Born in 1828, Galer made significant contributions to the study of organic chemistry and published numerous scholarly works.

One of the most recent notable figures with the surname Galer is the American artist and sculptor Juliet Galer, born in 1944. Her works, which often explore themes of nature and the human form, have been exhibited in galleries and museums across the United States and internationally.

While the origin of the surname Galer can be traced back to Germany, it has since spread to various parts of the world, with bearers of the name found in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Galer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Galer 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. Middlesex leads with 45 Galers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.08x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 45 2.08x
Norfolk 45 13.52x
Suffolk 19 7.20x
Cambridgeshire 17 12.40x
Surrey 14 1.33x
Essex 11 2.57x
Durham 10 1.55x
Hertfordshire 7 4.69x
Northamptonshire 7 3.44x
Warwickshire 6 1.10x
Yorkshire 6 0.28x
Derbyshire 5 1.47x
Devon 5 1.11x
Lancashire 5 0.19x
Cornwall 4 1.63x
Kent 4 0.54x
Bedfordshire 3 2.68x
Staffordshire 3 0.41x
Leicestershire 2 0.83x
Northumberland 2 0.62x
Berkshire 1 0.62x
Worcestershire 1 0.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Loddon in Norfolk leads with 19 Galers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2209.30x.

Place Total Index
Loddon 19 2209.30x
Hornsey 16 58.44x
Wangford 14 2800.00x
Girton 13 3611.11x
Westoe 9 24.64x
Camberwell 8 5.78x
Paddington London 8 10.05x
Baldock 7 500.00x
Chedgrave 7 2592.59x
Wellingborough 7 68.36x
Aston 6 3.99x
Kensington London 6 4.98x
West Ham 6 6.36x
Ashover 5 295.86x
Clist St George 5 2500.00x
Walthamstow 5 32.51x
Bromley London 4 8.40x
Maker 4 176.99x
Tooting Graveney 4 136.05x
Weston Longville 4 1333.33x
Bury St Edmunds St James 3 42.61x
Guestwick 3 2142.86x
Hockering 3 1071.43x
Rochester St Nicholas 3 130.43x
Stotfold 3 139.53x
Ecclesall Bierlow 2 4.58x
Hackney London 2 1.65x
Happisburgh 2 476.19x
Hulme 2 3.73x
Humberstone 2 101.52x
Leeds 2 1.65x
Leek Lowe 2 20.58x
Manchester 2 1.73x
Newcastle On Tyne St 2 11.98x
Norton Subcourse 2 740.74x
Skelton In Guisbrough 2 34.48x
St George Hanover Square 2 5.24x
Swavesey 2 227.27x
Walberswick 2 909.09x
Wymondham 2 58.82x
Bartlow 1 1111.11x
Darlington 1 4.02x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.76x
Foulsham 1 142.86x
Gaywood 1 166.67x
Lambeth 1 0.53x
Mulbarton 1 263.16x
Reading St Giles 1 6.27x
Rotherhithe 1 3.74x
Shoreditch London 1 1.07x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 10.67x
St George Bloomsbury 1 8.05x
St Marylebone London 1 0.87x
St Marythe Less 1 120.48x
Stoke Newington London 1 5.93x
Stoke Prior 1 57.47x
Tottenham 1 2.90x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 1 13.51x
Westminster St John 1 3.79x
Wolstanton 1 4.50x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 13
John 12
George 11
James 9
Charles 6
Thomas 6
Edward 3
Henry 3
Richard 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Ephraim 2
Harry 2
Robert 2
Willm. 2
Ambrose 1
Carles 1
Edmond 1
Edwin 1
Elias 1
Elliot 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Geo 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Joseph 1
Maxcey 1
Percival 1
Reginald 1
Roger 1
Saml. 1
Sidney 1
Tho. 1

FAQ

Galer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Galer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 222 people were recorded with the Galer surname. That placed it at #12,022 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Galer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 334 in 2016. That gives Galer a modern rank of #13,640.

What does the Galer surname mean?

A surname derived from the Middle English word "galier", meaning a leper or leper hospital resident.

What does the Galer map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Galer 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.