UK surname
A French occupational surname meaning a peasant or farm laborer.
In the 1881 census there were 74 people recorded with the Gally surname, ranking it #23,062 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 20, ranked #36,679, down from #23,062 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Philip and Jacob and Methwold. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gally is 203 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 73.0%.
1881 census count
74
Ranked #23,062
Modern count
20
2016, ranked #36,679
Peak year
1861
203 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Gally surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Gally surname density by area, 1891 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 | 151 | #12,840 |
| 1861 | historical | 203 | #11,865 |
| 1881 | historical | 74 | #23,062 |
| 1891 | historical | 110 | #22,557 |
| 1901 | historical | 75 | #25,852 |
| 1911 | historical | 41 | #28,802 |
| 1997 | modern | 19 | #35,928 |
| 1998 | modern | 23 | #35,603 |
| 1999 | modern | 24 | #35,514 |
| 2000 | modern | 16 | #36,316 |
| 2001 | modern | 16 | #36,160 |
| 2002 | modern | 19 | #35,991 |
| 2003 | modern | 21 | #35,825 |
| 2004 | modern | 19 | #36,147 |
| 2005 | modern | 20 | #36,165 |
| 2006 | modern | 18 | #36,412 |
| 2007 | modern | 22 | #36,213 |
| 2008 | modern | 20 | #36,443 |
| 2009 | modern | 18 | #36,682 |
| 2010 | modern | 18 | #36,774 |
| 2011 | modern | 15 | #37,030 |
| 2012 | modern | 16 | #36,897 |
| 2013 | modern | 19 | #36,691 |
| 2014 | modern | 20 | #36,654 |
| 2015 | modern | 20 | #36,653 |
| 2016 | modern | 20 | #36,679 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Philip and Jacob, Methwold, Somerton and Manchester. 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 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | St Philip and Jacob | Gloucestershire |
| 3 | Methwold | Norfolk |
| 4 | Somerton | Somerset |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Gally 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 Gally, 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 Gally surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Gally 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, Gally 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 Gally is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Gally, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname GALLY originated in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the late 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "gal," meaning "jovial" or "merry." The name likely referred to someone with a cheerful or lively disposition.
GALLY is believed to have roots in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Norfolk, and Somerset. It may have originated as a nickname or descriptive name before becoming an established surname. Similar spellings found in historical records include Galie, Galley, and Gallie.
One of the earliest documented references to the GALLY name can be found in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1327, which recorded a John Gally residing in Cambridgeshire. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also mentioned a Henry Gally in Oxfordshire.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in various medieval records, such as the Pipe Rolls and the Feet of Fines. For instance, a Robert Gally was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of 1382 in Lincolnshire.
Notable individuals with the GALLY surname throughout history include:
1. John Gally (c. 1505 - 1551), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge.
2. Henry Gally (1636 - 1718), an English churchman who became the Dean of Bristol Cathedral and the Bishop of Gloucester.
3. Thomas Gally (1698 - 1766), an English antiquarian and writer known for his work on the history of Cambridgeshire.
4. Edmund Gally (1752 - 1825), a British Army officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and later became a Lieutenant-General.
5. Edouard Gally (1819 - 1888), a French painter and illustrator known for his depictions of military scenes and battle scenes.
The GALLY surname has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Galley Hill in Hertfordshire and Galley Wood in Gloucestershire, which may have influenced the development of the name in certain regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gally 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. Lancashire leads with 10 Gallys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.17x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 10 | 1.17x |
| Middlesex | 10 | 1.39x |
| Norfolk | 8 | 7.21x |
| Yorkshire | 8 | 1.12x |
| Surrey | 6 | 1.71x |
| Cambridgeshire | 5 | 10.94x |
| Gloucestershire | 5 | 3.53x |
| Hampshire | 5 | 3.38x |
| Durham | 4 | 1.86x |
| Ayrshire | 2 | 3.70x |
| Devon | 2 | 1.33x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.81x |
| Dunbartonshire | 1 | 5.16x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.70x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 1.03x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 2.24x |
| Renfrewshire | 1 | 1.79x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 1.14x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 1.06x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kensington London in Middlesex leads with 7 Gallys recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.45x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kensington London | 7 | 17.45x |
| Bermondsey | 6 | 27.93x |
| Salford | 6 | 23.83x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 5 | 37.54x |
| Methwold | 5 | 1388.89x |
| Swinton In Rotherham | 5 | 264.55x |
| Southampton St Mary | 4 | 43.01x |
| St Andrewthe Less | 4 | 76.63x |
| Appleton Roebuck | 3 | 2727.27x |
| Beckenham | 2 | 62.11x |
| Crook Billy Row | 2 | 72.73x |
| Feltwell | 2 | 909.09x |
| Greencroft | 2 | 512.82x |
| Hulme | 2 | 11.19x |
| Stoke Damerel | 2 | 19.03x |
| Whitechapel London | 2 | 28.13x |
| Arrochar | 1 | 769.23x |
| Banbury | 1 | 112.36x |
| Braintree | 1 | 78.13x |
| Clerkenwell London | 1 | 5.87x |
| Dudley | 1 | 8.73x |
| Dunlop | 1 | 294.12x |
| Everton | 1 | 3.66x |
| Haveringland | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Kirkley | 1 | 135.14x |
| Manchester | 1 | 2.60x |
| Newbattle | 1 | 120.48x |
| Portsea | 1 | 3.45x |
| Renfrew | 1 | 54.05x |
| West Kilbride | 1 | 196.08x |
| Wicken | 1 | 476.19x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Gally 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 Gally 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 Gally households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 12 |
| Boot Macheinest | 2 |
| Boot Polisher | 2 |
| Clerk | 2 |
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| Fruiterer & Green Grocer | 2 |
| Laundress | 2 |
| (Dom) | 1 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Ag Labourer | 1 |
| Ag Labr | 1 |
| Apprentice To Carpenter | 1 |
| Assistant (C & S) | 1 |
| Baker | 1 |
| Boot Tacker | 1 |
| Cook Doms | 1 |
| Cotton Spinner Unemployed | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Fishermans Wife | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| General Clerk | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Groom | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Iron Turner | 1 |
| Joiner & Carpenter | 1 |
| Lookin Glass Fitter (Cutter Of The) | 1 |
| Looking Glass Fitter | 1 |
| Mill Hand (C) | 1 |
| Musician | 1 |
| Picture Frame Maker | 1 |
| Servant Dom | 1 |
| Shepherd | 1 |
| Shirt Maker | 1 |
| Shopman Shoe Warehouse | 1 |
| Skin Dresser | 1 |
| Wool Merchant | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 74 people were recorded with the Gally surname. That placed it at #23,062 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 20 in 2016. That gives Gally a modern rank of #36,679.
A French occupational surname meaning a peasant or farm laborer.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gally 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.