Explore the Family Name Galen
The meaning of Galen
1. Dutch (Van Galen): habitational name, probably from the German town of Gahlen in North Rhine-Westphalia, or perhaps from the village Gaal in the province of North Brabant. 2. English (Cambridgeshire and Essex): variant of Galyon or Gallon.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Galen in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Galen has seen a slight decrease between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Galen ranked as the 31,848th most popular surname, with a count of 685. By 2010, the rank had dropped to 35,671, with an overall count of 630, signifying an 8.03% dip in popularity. The proportion per 100k also decreased by 16.0%, going from 0.25 in 2000 to 0.21 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #31,848 | #35,671 | -12% |
| Count | 685 | 630 | -8.03% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.25 | 0.21 | -16% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Galen
Regarding ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals some shifts within the Galen surname holders. A small percentage identified as Asian/Pacific Islander in 2010, whereas there were none recorded under this ethnicity in 2000. Individuals identifying as two or more races saw a slight increase from 1.46% to 1.59%. The majority of the Galens identified as White, which increased marginally from 91.82% in 2000 to 92.38% in 2010. There was a significant decrease in those identifying as Hispanic, dropping from 3.94% to 1.75%. Those identifying as Black saw a small increase from 1.61% to 1.90%, while the American Indian and Alaskan Native category remained unchanged at 0.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 91.82% | 92.38% | 0.61% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 2.38% | 0% |
| Black | 1.61% | 1.9% | 18.01% |
| Hispanic | 3.94% | 1.75% | -55.58% |
| Two or More Races | 1.46% | 1.59% | 8.9% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |