NameCensus.

UK surname

Gallie

French occupational surname meaning "keeper of the royal road" or "road builder".

In the 1881 census there were 321 people recorded with the Gallie surname, ranking it #9,277 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 462, ranked #10,607, down from #9,277 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tarbat, Hawick and Wilton and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Parkhead West and Barrowfield, Invergordon and Weymouth and Portland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gallie is 488 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 43.9%.

1881 census count

321

Ranked #9,277

Modern count

462

2016, ranked #10,607

Peak year

1998

488 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gallie had 321 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,277 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 462 in 2016, ranked #10,607.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 409 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Gallie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gallie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gallie 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 232 #9,296
1861 historical 206 #11,725
1881 historical 321 #9,277
1891 historical 398 #8,910
1901 historical 409 #9,338
1911 historical 187 #15,600
1997 modern 471 #9,732
1998 modern 488 #9,780
1999 modern 485 #9,900
2000 modern 480 #9,932
2001 modern 475 #9,827
2002 modern 485 #9,846
2003 modern 465 #9,985
2004 modern 455 #10,208
2005 modern 473 #9,841
2006 modern 463 #10,015
2007 modern 478 #9,891
2008 modern 477 #9,997
2009 modern 474 #10,251
2010 modern 486 #10,264
2011 modern 469 #10,444
2012 modern 458 #10,528
2013 modern 468 #10,516
2014 modern 467 #10,596
2015 modern 465 #10,572
2016 modern 462 #10,607

Geography

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Where Gallies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tarbat, Hawick and Wilton, Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Parkhead West and Barrowfield, Invergordon, Weymouth and Portland, Alness and Seaboard. 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 Tarbat Ross And Cromarty
2 Hawick and Wilton Roxburgh
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Parkhead West and Barrowfield Glasgow City
2 Invergordon Highland
3 Weymouth and Portland 009 Weymouth and Portland
4 Alness Highland
5 Seaboard Highland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gallie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gallie

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Gallie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Gallie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Gallie 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

Gallie is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gallie 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 Gallie 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 Gallie, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Gallie

The surname Gallie is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic word "gall" meaning "stranger" or "foreigner." The earliest records of this name can be traced back to the 12th century in the regions of Ayrshire and Lanarkshire in Scotland.

The name is believed to have been initially used to refer to individuals who had come from other regions or countries, particularly those of Scandinavian descent. During the Viking Age, many Norsemen settled in various parts of Scotland, and the term "gall" was used by the local Gaelic-speaking population to identify these newcomers.

One of the earliest documented references to the Gallie name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical record of Scottish nobles and landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "Gallie" and "Galley," reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during that time.

In the 16th century, the Gallie surname was prominent in the parish of Kilwinning, Ayrshire, where several individuals bearing this name were recorded. One notable bearer was Robert Gallie, who was born in Kilwinning in 1522 and served as a minister in the Church of Scotland.

Another famous Gallie was Sir Duncan Gallie, a Scottish military commander born in Ayrshire in 1589. He played a significant role in the Scottish Civil War, initially supporting King Charles I but later switching allegiance to the Covenanters.

In the 18th century, the Gallie surname spread beyond Scotland, with many bearers migrating to other parts of the British Isles and North America. One notable individual was Alexander Gallie, born in Glasgow in 1725, who became a successful merchant and landowner in Virginia, USA.

The surname Gallie has also been associated with several place names in Scotland, such as Gallieston and Galliehill, both located in Ayrshire. These place names likely derived from individuals bearing the Gallie surname who once owned or resided in those areas.

Throughout history, the Gallie name has been spelled in various ways, including Galley, Gally, Gallay, and Gallie. These variations reflect the regional dialects and spelling conventions of the time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gallie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gallie 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. Channel Islands leads with 70 Gallies recorded in 1881 and an index of 62.10x.

County Total Index
Channel Islands 70 62.10x
Ross-shire 68 65.09x
Lanarkshire 51 4.15x
Midlothian 36 7.06x
Lancashire 27 0.60x
Inverness-shire 23 20.24x
Ayrshire 13 4.57x
Cheshire 13 1.55x
Roxburghshire 12 17.41x
Glamorgan 11 1.66x
Middlesex 8 0.21x
Aberdeenshire 7 1.99x
Cornwall 6 1.39x
Yorkshire 6 0.16x
Fife 5 2.22x
Renfrewshire 5 1.70x
Carmarthenshire 4 2.49x
Orkney 4 9.56x
Stirlingshire 4 2.85x
Caithness 3 5.76x
Surrey 3 0.16x
Westmorland 3 3.59x
Banffshire 2 2.53x
Sutherland 2 6.84x
Angus 1 0.28x
Durham 1 0.09x
Hampshire 1 0.13x
Perthshire 1 0.59x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Helier in Channel Islands leads with 49 Gallies recorded in 1881 and an index of 133.52x.

Place Total Index
St Helier 49 133.52x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 30 14.63x
Barony 26 8.35x
Inverness 23 80.48x
Tain 21 530.30x
Govan 12 3.94x
St Peter Port 12 57.55x
Hawick 11 71.34x
Largs 11 163.93x
Birkenhead 10 14.94x
Logie Easter 10 917.43x
West Derby 10 7.57x
Cardiff St John 9 41.59x
Kilmuir Easter 8 536.91x
North Meols 8 18.10x
Glasgow 7 3.20x
Peterhead 7 37.57x
Edderton 6 582.52x
Islington London 6 1.63x
Rosskeen 6 121.95x
Tarbat 6 242.92x
Cambuslang 5 40.32x
Cromarty 5 178.57x
Kenwyn 5 44.41x
Nigg 5 381.68x
St Saviour 5 80.26x
Bowling 4 10.71x
Everton 4 2.78x
Llanelly 4 11.08x
Applethwaite 3 120.48x
Edinburgh St Georges 3 28.36x
Falkirk 3 9.14x
Reay 3 104.90x
Renfrew 3 30.80x
Streatham 3 10.63x
Tranmere 3 9.72x
Walls Flotta 3 153.06x
Windle 3 11.81x
Cardiff St Mary 2 5.48x
Markinch 2 26.14x
Rathven 2 13.50x
South Leith 2 3.49x
St Martin 2 28.94x
Stewarton 2 35.52x
Aldershot 1 3.83x
Anstruther Easter 1 61.35x
Barrow In Furness 1 1.63x
Brightside Bierlow 1 1.35x
Campsie 1 12.99x
Cathcart 1 6.27x
Creich 1 34.36x
Dornoch 1 30.30x
Falmouth 1 6.56x
Forgan 1 23.20x
Grays Inn Staple Inn 1 204.08x
Holm 1 71.43x
Jedburgh 1 14.81x
Kiltearn 1 64.94x
Lamesley 1 16.42x
Liverpool 1 0.36x
Montrose 1 4.68x
North Leith 1 4.24x
Old Monkland 1 2.05x
Paisley High Church 1 4.26x
Perth East Church 1 6.21x
Sheffield 1 0.83x
St Lawrence 1 32.47x
St Monance 1 37.17x
Teddington London 1 11.60x
Trinity 1 38.31x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Elizabeth 6
Jane 6
Margaret 4
Annie 3
Eliza 3
Frances 3
Louisa 3
Rosina 3
Sarah 3
Agnes 2
Alice 2
Ann 2
Anne 2
Emily 2
Esther 2
Maria 2
Mgt. 2
Ada 1
Amelia 1
Angela 1
Betsey 1
Cecelia 1
Clara 1
Eleanor 1
Elirna 1
Elise 1
Eva 1
Florence 1
Georgina 1
H.M. 1
Henrietta 1
Hilda 1
Janie 1
Jessie 1
Joan 1
Katherine 1
Lilly 1
Louise 1
Lucy 1
Marie 1
Marion 1
Minnie 1
Rachel 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Gallie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gallie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 321 people were recorded with the Gallie surname. That placed it at #9,277 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gallie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 462 in 2016. That gives Gallie a modern rank of #10,607.

What does the Gallie surname mean?

French occupational surname meaning "keeper of the royal road" or "road builder".

What does the Gallie map show?

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