NameCensus.

UK surname

Galey

A locational surname derived from the town of Gailey in Staffordshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 165 people recorded with the Galey surname, ranking it #14,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 162, ranked #22,512, down from #14,559 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju, Great Yarmouth and Longborough with Bankfee. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield, Boston and East Lindsey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Galey is 221 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.8%.

1881 census count

165

Ranked #14,559

Modern count

162

2016, ranked #22,512

Peak year

1911

221 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Galey had 165 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,559 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 162 in 2016, ranked #22,512.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 221 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Galey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Galey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Galey 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 98 #17,383
1861 historical 149 #15,373
1881 historical 165 #14,559
1891 historical 193 #15,335
1901 historical 186 #15,839
1911 historical 221 #14,044
1997 modern 145 #21,571
1998 modern 146 #22,031
1999 modern 146 #22,202
2000 modern 150 #21,781
2001 modern 151 #21,375
2002 modern 156 #21,348
2003 modern 158 #20,952
2004 modern 154 #21,432
2005 modern 155 #21,318
2006 modern 152 #21,721
2007 modern 160 #21,296
2008 modern 161 #21,431
2009 modern 162 #21,791
2010 modern 167 #21,835
2011 modern 166 #21,745
2012 modern 158 #22,460
2013 modern 159 #22,706
2014 modern 173 #21,639
2015 modern 172 #21,649
2016 modern 162 #22,512

Geography

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Where Galeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju, Great Yarmouth, Longborough with Bankfee, Bolton-le-Moors and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield, Boston, East Lindsey, Broadland and North Norfolk. 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 St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju Norfolk
2 Great Yarmouth Norfolk
3 Longborough with Bankfee Gloucestershire
4 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire
5 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 024 Wakefield
2 Boston 004 Boston
3 East Lindsey 006 East Lindsey
4 Broadland 003 Broadland
5 North Norfolk 012 North Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Galey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Galey

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Galey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Galey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Galey is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Galey is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Galey falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Galey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Galey

The surname Galey originated in France, likely in the 12th or 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "galer," meaning "to divert or amuse." This suggests that the name may have initially been given to a jester, entertainer, or someone with a lively personality.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a Robert Galye is mentioned as a resident of Oxfordshire, England. This indicates that the name had already spread to other parts of Europe by that time.

The Galey surname is also closely linked to several place names in France, such as Galey in the Auvergne region and Gailley in the Franche-Comté region. These place names likely influenced the spelling variations of the surname, including Galy, Galley, and Gayley.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the name was John Galey (c. 1528-1594), an English Protestant reformer and Bishop of Bangor. He played a significant role in the religious and political struggles of the time.

Another prominent individual was Sir Samuel Galey (1685-1761), a British naval officer and Member of Parliament. He served in several notable battles during the War of the Spanish Succession and later became the Governor of Newfoundland.

In the 19th century, Charles Galey (1822-1893) was a French painter and engraver renowned for his landscapes and scenes of rural life. His works were exhibited at the Paris Salon and are held in various museum collections.

Across the Atlantic, John Galey (1792-1859) was an American politician and lawyer who served as a U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania in the 1830s and 1840s.

Another notable figure was William Galey (1875-1953), an English cricketer who played for Hampshire County Cricket Club and represented England in four Test matches between 1899 and 1902.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the Galey surname throughout history, showcasing its diverse origins and presence across different regions and professions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Galey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Galey 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. Norfolk leads with 44 Galeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.57x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 44 17.57x
Warwickshire 25 6.09x
Middlesex 18 1.10x
Yorkshire 15 0.93x
Lancashire 12 0.62x
Gloucestershire 11 3.44x
Suffolk 6 3.02x
Surrey 6 0.76x
Durham 4 0.83x
Cheshire 3 0.83x
Cornwall 3 1.63x
Essex 3 0.93x
Lanarkshire 3 0.57x
Cambridgeshire 2 1.94x
Hampshire 2 0.60x
Staffordshire 2 0.36x
Channel Islands 1 2.07x
Devon 1 0.29x
Glamorgan 1 0.35x
Kent 1 0.18x
Lincolnshire 1 0.38x
Northamptonshire 1 0.65x
Royal Navy 1 5.15x
Shropshire 1 0.71x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 14 Galeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.38x.

Place Total Index
Aston 14 12.38x
Birmingham 10 7.30x
Great Yarmouth 10 48.19x
Droylsden 9 142.63x
Heigham 8 59.52x
Leeds 8 8.78x
Clerkenwell London 7 18.21x
Handsworth 7 163.93x
Longborough 6 1714.29x
Lowestoft 6 64.03x
Church Icomb 5 5555.56x
Mile End Old Town London 5 14.42x
Norwich St John Timberhill 5 746.27x
Ford 4 275.86x
Norwich St Swithin 4 930.23x
Beeston With Bittering 3 1071.43x
Bothwell 3 20.99x
Coltishall 3 566.04x
Gwinear 3 344.83x
Norwich St Stephen 3 130.43x
Tranmere 3 22.69x
Walton Le Soken 3 394.74x
Bethnal Green London 2 2.83x
Croydon 2 4.54x
Great Wilbraham 2 645.16x
Handsworth 2 14.76x
Liverpool 2 1.70x
Norwich St Michael At 2 137.93x
Portsea 2 3.06x
Putney 2 26.95x
Tottenham 2 7.71x
Barton Turf 1 500.00x
Chertsey 1 19.49x
Deptford St Nicholas 1 22.68x
Devonport 1 25.64x
East Rudham 1 227.27x
Edgbaston 1 7.85x
Ellingham 1 526.32x
Fakenham 1 81.30x
Great Grimsby 1 6.05x
Highley 1 500.00x
Islington London 1 0.63x
Lakenham 1 28.09x
Lambeth 1 0.70x
Moss Side 1 9.83x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 1 79.37x
Royal Navy 1 6.03x
St Pancras London 1 0.76x
St Peter Port 1 11.20x
Swansea St Thomas 1 35.09x
Wellingborough 1 12.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 12
John 10
Thomas 9
Samuel 6
Charles 5
Arthur 4
Henry 3
Walter 3
Frank 2
Frederick 2
George 2
Joseph 2
Richard 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Christmas 1
Dempster 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Frederic 1
Herbert 1
James 1
Jas.Tho. 1
Jonathan 1
Regent 1
Reuben 1
Richd.R. 1
Sidney 1
Thos 1
Ubert 1
W. 1

FAQ

Galey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Galey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 165 people were recorded with the Galey surname. That placed it at #14,559 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Galey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 162 in 2016. That gives Galey a modern rank of #22,512.

What does the Galey surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the town of Gailey in Staffordshire, England.

What does the Galey map show?

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