UK surname
An anglicized surname derived from the Irish Gaelic name "Ó Gallchobhair" meaning "descendant of the foreign aid."
In the 1881 census there were 52 people recorded with the Gallaugher surname, ranking it #26,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 42, ranked #35,336, down from #26,281 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Newcastle All Saints and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gallaugher is 100 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 19.2%.
1881 census count
52
Ranked #26,281
Modern count
42
2016, ranked #35,336
Peak year
1861
100 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Gallaugher surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Gallaugher surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 66 | #21,617 |
| 1861 | historical | 100 | #21,103 |
| 1881 | historical | 52 | #26,281 |
| 1891 | historical | 49 | #30,349 |
| 1901 | historical | 32 | #30,501 |
| 1911 | historical | 15 | #31,938 |
| 1997 | modern | 38 | #33,872 |
| 1998 | modern | 27 | #35,148 |
| 1999 | modern | 31 | #34,821 |
| 2000 | modern | 33 | #34,607 |
| 2001 | modern | 31 | #34,648 |
| 2002 | modern | 31 | #34,866 |
| 2003 | modern | 31 | #34,957 |
| 2004 | modern | 35 | #34,783 |
| 2005 | modern | 37 | #34,815 |
| 2006 | modern | 37 | #35,074 |
| 2007 | modern | 38 | #35,153 |
| 2008 | modern | 39 | #35,191 |
| 2009 | modern | 40 | #35,274 |
| 2010 | modern | 44 | #35,183 |
| 2011 | modern | 43 | #35,228 |
| 2012 | modern | 49 | #34,873 |
| 2013 | modern | 46 | #35,110 |
| 2014 | modern | 44 | #35,241 |
| 2015 | modern | 40 | #35,422 |
| 2016 | modern | 42 | #35,336 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Newcastle All Saints, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Bamburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 2 | Newcastle All Saints | Northumberland |
| 3 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 4 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| 5 | Bamburgh | Northumberland |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Gallaugher surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gallaugher, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Gallaugher surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Gallaugher household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Gallaugher is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gallaugher is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Gallaugher, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Gallaugher has its origins in Scotland, where it first appeared in the early 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic words "gall" meaning "stranger" or "foreigner," and "oighre" meaning "heir" or "descendant." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who was the descendant of a foreign ancestor or settler in Scotland.
The earliest recorded mention of the name Gallaugher can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1264, where a person named Thomas Galougher is listed as a landowner in the county of Ayrshire. This indicates that the Gallaugher family had already established themselves as a respectable and influential clan by that time.
During the 14th and 15th centuries, the Gallaughers were prominent landowners and lairds in the regions of Ayrshire and Renfrewshire. Several members of the family are mentioned in various historical records, including Sir John Gallaugher, who fought alongside Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.
In the 16th century, the Gallaughers were actively involved in the Scottish Reformation, with some members embracing Protestantism and others remaining loyal to the Catholic faith. This led to tensions and conflicts within the family, which are documented in the writings of contemporary historians.
One notable figure from this period was William Gallaugher (1540-1616), a Presbyterian minister who was a vocal critic of the Catholic Church and played a significant role in the establishment of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Scotland.
Another prominent Gallaugher was Sir Robert Gallaugher (1620-1685), a royalist who supported the House of Stuart during the English Civil War. He was knighted by King Charles II for his loyalty and bravery in battle.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, many Gallaughers emigrated from Scotland to North America, particularly to Canada and the United States. One of the earliest recorded Gallaughers in America was James Gallaugher (1745-1825), who settled in Pennsylvania and fought in the American Revolutionary War.
Throughout its history, the Gallaugher surname has been associated with various occupations, including farming, military service, and religious leadership. While the name has undergone some spelling variations over time, such as Gallagher, Gallougher, and Gallocher, it has retained its distinct Scottish origins and heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gallaugher surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Northumberland leads with 16 Gallaughers recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.20x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Northumberland | 16 | 21.20x |
| Midlothian | 11 | 16.19x |
| Lancashire | 10 | 1.66x |
| Yorkshire | 5 | 0.99x |
| Lanarkshire | 4 | 2.44x |
| Argyllshire | 2 | 14.16x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 1.17x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.20x |
| Renfrewshire | 1 | 2.54x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chorley in Lancashire leads with 7 Gallaughers recorded in 1881 and an index of 207.10x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Chorley | 7 | 207.10x |
| North Shields | 7 | 463.58x |
| North Sunderland | 7 | 4117.65x |
| Borthwick | 6 | 2000.00x |
| Horsforth | 5 | 454.55x |
| Edinburgh Canongate | 4 | 231.21x |
| Govan | 4 | 9.86x |
| Dunoon Kilmun | 2 | 181.82x |
| Little Bolton | 2 | 25.84x |
| Newcastle On Tyne | 2 | 2500.00x |
| Rushall | 2 | 198.02x |
| Horwich | 1 | 151.52x |
| Lasswade | 1 | 64.52x |
| Port Glasgow | 1 | 52.63x |
| Westminster St James | 1 | 19.19x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Gallaugher surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Gallaugher surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Gallaugher households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 12 |
| Fisherman | 4 |
| General Laborer | 2 |
| Herring Worker | 2 |
| Rover In A Cotton Mill | 2 |
| Certified Schoolmaster | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Pawnbrokers Assistant | 1 |
| Second Fisherman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 52 people were recorded with the Gallaugher surname. That placed it at #26,281 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 42 in 2016. That gives Gallaugher a modern rank of #35,336.
An anglicized surname derived from the Irish Gaelic name "Ó Gallchobhair" meaning "descendant of the foreign aid."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gallaugher bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.