Explore the Family Name Galler
The meaning of Galler
1. German: patronymic from a personal name (from Latin Gallus) which was widespread in Europe in the Middle Ages (see Gall 3). 2. German: nickname for someone in the service of the monastery of St. Gallen (see Gall 3), or a habitational name for someone from the city in Switzerland so named. 3. English: nickname from Old French galler, galure ‘coxcomb, fop’ or ‘affable man’, a medieval equivalent of Gallier. 4. English (of French Huguenot origin): altered form of Gallier, a cognate of 3 above. 5. Hungarian (Gallér): from gallér ‘collar’, hence a metonymic occupational name for a taylor, in particular a maker of military garments. 6. Jewish (Ashkenazic): from German Galle ‘bile, gall’, with the agent suffix -er. This surname seems to have been one of the group of names selected at random from vocabulary words by government officials. Some characteristic forenames: German Dieter, Fritz, Otto, Reinhold. Jewish Hyman, Emanuel, Meyer, Myer, Naum.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Galler in the United States?
The surname Galler saw a slight dip in its rank of popularity based on the Decennial U.S. Census data from 2000 to 2010, dropping from 26,642 to 27,411, a decline of approximately 2.89 percent. Despite this drop in rank, the number of individuals with this surname actually increased from 860 to 880, marking a rise of 2.33 percent. In terms of proportion per 100,000 people, there was a decrease from 0.32 to 0.3, a reduction of about 6.25 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #26,642 | #27,411 | -2.89% |
| Count | 860 | 880 | 2.33% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.32 | 0.3 | -6.25% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Galler
Looking at the ethnic identity associated with the surname Galler, it seems to be predominantly White, accounting for 88.86 percent in 2010, down slightly from 89.77 percent in 2000. This change represents a small decrease of 1.01 percent according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. Notable changes were seen in the percentage of those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native, with an impressive increase of 52.15 percent, though they still constitute a small portion of the total. The Hispanic representation also increased by 10.22 percent. Additionally, there was a modest increase in those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and Black by 3.35 percent and 2.58 percent respectively. However, there was a significant decrease in individuals claiming two or more races, with a drop of 26.88 percent over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 89.77% | 88.86% | -1.01% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 2.09% | 3.18% | 52.15% |
| Black | 2.33% | 2.39% | 2.58% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 2.09% | 2.16% | 3.35% |
| Hispanic | 1.86% | 2.05% | 10.22% |
| Two or More Races | 1.86% | 1.36% | -26.88% |