NameCensus.

UK surname

Gallon

A locational surname referring to someone from a place pronounced "Gallon".

In the 1881 census there were 739 people recorded with the Gallon surname, ranking it #4,958 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,199, ranked #4,962, down from #4,958 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dallas, Jarrow and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Macduff, Northumberland and North Tyneside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gallon is 1,210 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 62.2%.

1881 census count

739

Ranked #4,958

Modern count

1,199

2016, ranked #4,962

Peak year

1999

1,210 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gallon had 739 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,958 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,199 in 2016, ranked #4,962.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 917 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Gallon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gallon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gallon 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 563 #4,504
1861 historical 547 #4,810
1881 historical 739 #4,958
1891 historical 710 #5,533
1901 historical 899 #5,152
1911 historical 917 #4,878
1997 modern 1,161 #4,852
1998 modern 1,186 #4,933
1999 modern 1,210 #4,896
2000 modern 1,176 #4,990
2001 modern 1,151 #4,984
2002 modern 1,186 #4,951
2003 modern 1,154 #4,972
2004 modern 1,154 #4,989
2005 modern 1,124 #5,044
2006 modern 1,153 #4,924
2007 modern 1,161 #4,944
2008 modern 1,180 #4,900
2009 modern 1,192 #4,963
2010 modern 1,209 #5,009
2011 modern 1,182 #5,055
2012 modern 1,171 #5,010
2013 modern 1,171 #5,099
2014 modern 1,190 #5,061
2015 modern 1,195 #4,989
2016 modern 1,199 #4,962

Geography

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Where Gallons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dallas, Jarrow, Gateshead, Newcastle All Saints and Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Macduff, Northumberland, North Tyneside, Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead. 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 Dallas Elgin
2 Jarrow Durham
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland
5 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Macduff Aberdeenshire
2 Northumberland 003 Northumberland
3 North Tyneside 019 North Tyneside
4 Newcastle upon Tyne 021 Newcastle upon Tyne
5 Gateshead 021 Gateshead

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gallon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gallon

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Gallon is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gallon 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

Gallon falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gallon 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 Gallon, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Gallon

The surname Gallon is believed to have originated in France, with its roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "galo," which means "bright" or "cheerful." This suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed as a nickname upon someone with a particularly lively or joyful demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a certain "Galo de Ville," indicating the presence of the name in Normandy at that time.

During the 12th century, the name appeared in various forms, including "Galun," "Galoun," and "Galon," reflecting the regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. These variations were often influenced by the local dialects and linguistic particularities of the areas where the name was found.

Notably, the name Gallon was associated with several prominent individuals throughout history. One such figure was Jean Gallon, a French explorer and navigator who lived in the 16th century. He is renowned for his expeditions to the West Indies and his contributions to the development of maritime cartography.

Another noteworthy bearer of the name was Émile Gallon, a French painter and engraver born in 1859. His works, which often depicted scenes from rural life, were highly regarded and exhibited at prestigious venues such as the Salon de Paris.

In England, the name Gallon gained prominence with Sir Douglas Gallon, a British civil engineer and inventor born in 1822. He is best known for his pioneering work in the field of hydraulics and his contributions to the development of the modern flush toilet.

The name Gallon also has ties to certain place names and locations. For instance, the village of Gallon in the Auvergne region of France is believed to have derived its name from the surname, suggesting the presence of early bearers of the name in that area.

Throughout history, the surname Gallon has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, explorers, engineers, and scholars. While the origins of the name may be rooted in a simple nickname, it has since gained a rich tapestry of associations and connections across different cultures and regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gallon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gallon 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. Northumberland leads with 254 Gallons recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.71x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 254 23.71x
Durham 184 8.59x
Yorkshire 68 0.95x
Morayshire 35 31.29x
Lancashire 32 0.37x
Surrey 24 0.68x
Kent 18 0.73x
Lanarkshire 12 0.52x
Sussex 12 0.99x
Hampshire 10 0.68x
Middlesex 10 0.14x
Midlothian 8 0.83x
Devon 7 0.47x
Dorset 7 1.48x
Somerset 7 0.60x
Ayrshire 6 1.11x
Renfrewshire 6 1.08x
Warwickshire 6 0.33x
Cambridgeshire 5 1.10x
Suffolk 3 0.34x
West Lothian 3 2.77x
Berwickshire 2 2.29x
Cheshire 2 0.13x
Cumberland 2 0.32x
Orkney 2 2.53x
Shropshire 2 0.32x
Staffordshire 2 0.08x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.15x
Bedfordshire 1 0.27x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.52x
Flintshire 1 0.52x
Leicestershire 1 0.13x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.10x
Ross-shire 1 0.51x
Sutherland 1 1.81x
Wiltshire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gateshead in Durham leads with 60 Gallons recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.42x.

Place Total Index
Gateshead 60 37.42x
Westoe 25 20.59x
Wallsend 24 70.65x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 23 24.80x
Elswick 21 24.56x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 21 32.83x
Westgate 21 31.66x
Dallas 18 792.95x
Bishopwearmouth 17 9.25x
Carham 15 541.52x
Heworth 15 35.55x
Elgin 14 64.34x
South Blyth Newsham 14 666.67x
Bedlington 12 33.55x
Burradon In Tynemouth 12 437.96x
Chirton 12 49.51x
Battersea 11 4.15x
Tynemouth 11 19.18x
Liverpool 10 1.93x
Barony 9 1.53x
Byker 9 17.00x
Elland Cum Greetland 9 28.00x
Hutton Henry 9 199.56x
Stockton On Tees 9 8.72x
Barrow In Furness 7 6.03x
Holy Trinity 7 4.08x
Nether Hallam 7 7.25x
Plumstead 7 8.55x
St Mary Extra 7 58.92x
Walberton 7 463.58x
Bolton 6 1764.71x
Bromley 6 16.03x
Coventry St Michael 6 10.29x
Cramlington 6 42.40x
East Greenock 6 11.39x
Egham 6 27.86x
Irvine 6 40.08x
Longbenton 6 13.22x
Ugthorpe 6 1000.00x
Bermondsey 5 2.33x
Darlington 5 6.05x
Dewsbury 5 6.83x
Fenrother 5 3125.00x
Longfleet 5 91.41x
Mason 5 204.08x
Middlesbrough 5 5.38x
Newington 5 25.45x
North Leith 5 11.20x
Potter Newton 5 39.71x
Scarborough 5 7.71x
Benwell 4 34.16x
Bignor 4 869.57x
Capheaton 4 909.09x
E W Thirston With 4 615.38x
Sharples 4 43.15x
Whickham 4 20.29x
Berwick Hill 3 1250.00x
Cullercoates 3 89.02x
Dalmeny 3 72.46x
Eccleshill 3 17.28x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 3 13.15x
Felton 3 179.64x
Harton 3 35.46x
Kensington London 3 0.75x
Leeds 3 0.74x
Midsomer Norton 3 27.47x
Monkwearmouth Shore 3 7.18x
Newmarket All Sts 3 89.29x
Newmarket St Mary 3 44.58x
Nymett Rowland 3 1304.35x
Pontefract 3 19.52x
Rothbury 3 97.40x
South Shields 3 15.72x
Wallington Demesne 3 666.67x
West Derby 3 1.20x
Heugh 2 256.41x
Openshaw 2 5.00x
Paddington London 2 0.76x
Stannington 2 78.74x
Swinton 2 84.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 55
William 45
Thomas 31
James 24
Robert 23
George 20
Henry 13
Joseph 12
Matthew 12
Edward 11
Wm. 7
Charles 4
Michael 4
Frederick 3
Harry 3
Robt. 3
Vaughan 3
Andrew 2
Cuthbert 2
Herbert 2
Jno. 2
Samuel 2
Tom 2
Walter 2
Willm. 2
Archibald 1
Arther 1
Arthur 1
Dan 1
David 1
Donald 1
Ed. 1
Francis 1
Geo.B. 1
Gilbert 1
Harold 1
Hugh 1
Jeremiah 1
Luke 1
Mathw. 1
Michal 1
Micheal 1
Milburn 1
Nicholas 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Plimsoll 1
Richard 1
Septimus 1
Wm.J. 1

FAQ

Gallon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gallon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 739 people were recorded with the Gallon surname. That placed it at #4,958 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gallon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,199 in 2016. That gives Gallon a modern rank of #4,962.

What does the Gallon surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from a place pronounced "Gallon".

What does the Gallon map show?

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