NameCensus.

UK surname

Galvez

From the Galician surname Galvéz, derived from the Galician word galvo meaning "Galician," referring to an inhabitant of Galicia, Spain.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include St Albans, Westminster and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Galvez is 102 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

102

2016, ranked #30,722

Peak year

2016

102 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 102 in 2016, ranked #30,722.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Galvez surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Galvez surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Galvez 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
1861 historical 5 #33,418
1901 historical 2 #34,263
1997 modern 35 #34,174
1998 modern 35 #34,344
1999 modern 35 #34,418
2000 modern 39 #34,066
2001 modern 36 #34,171
2002 modern 36 #34,480
2003 modern 34 #34,681
2004 modern 32 #35,019
2005 modern 31 #35,260
2006 modern 33 #35,329
2007 modern 42 #34,905
2008 modern 40 #35,137
2009 modern 47 #34,856
2010 modern 66 #33,791
2011 modern 65 #33,842
2012 modern 89 #31,934
2013 modern 95 #31,523
2014 modern 99 #31,186
2015 modern 98 #31,342
2016 modern 102 #30,722

Geography

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Where Galvez' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to St Albans, Westminster, Cheshire East, Medway and Lambeth. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 St Albans 018 St Albans
2 Westminster 014 Westminster
3 Cheshire East 018 Cheshire East
4 Medway 011 Medway
5 Lambeth 030 Lambeth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Galvez

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Galvez

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Galvez surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Galvez household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Galvez is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Galvez is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Galvez 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 Galvez is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Galvez

The surname Galvez is of Spanish origin, originating from the region of Galicia in northwestern Spain. It likely emerged during the medieval period when surnames became hereditary.

Galvez is derived from the Latin personal name "Gualterius" or "Gualterus," which evolved into the Spanish name Gualter or Galter. The suffix "-ez" indicates a patronymic surname, meaning "son of." Thus, Galvez originally referred to the son of Gualter or Galter.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Galvez can be found in the 13th-century Libro de las Behetrías de Castilla, a medieval document listing landholders in the Kingdom of Castile. The name is also present in various other historical records from the region.

In the 15th century, a notable figure bearing the surname Galvez was Alonso Galvez, a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of the Canary Islands. Another prominent individual was Mariano Matías Galvez, a Spanish military officer and governor of Guatemala from 1779 to 1783.

During the 16th century, the name Galvez appeared in the Americas as Spanish colonization and exploration expanded. One famous bearer was José de Gálvez, a Spanish colonial administrator and Visitor-General of New Spain (present-day Mexico and parts of the United States) from 1765 to 1771.

Another notable figure was Bernardo de Gálvez y Madrid, a Spanish military leader and colonial governor who played a crucial role in the American Revolutionary War, aiding the American colonists against the British. He was born in 1746 in Macharaviaya, Spain, and died in 1786 in Mexico City.

In the 19th century, José Gálvez Montes de Oca, a Peruvian military leader and politician, served as the President of Peru from 1867 to 1868.

The surname Galvez has also been associated with various place names in Spain, such as Galvez de Soriente in the province of Guadalajara and Galvez de la Jara in the province of Toledo.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Galvez surname: questions and answers

How common is the Galvez surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 102 in 2016. That gives Galvez a modern rank of #30,722.

What does the Galvez surname mean?

From the Galician surname Galvéz, derived from the Galician word galvo meaning "Galician," referring to an inhabitant of Galicia, Spain.

What does the Galvez map show?

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