Explore the Family Name Galley
The meaning of Galley
1. English: metonymic occupational name from Middle English galei(e), gallie ‘seagoing vessel with sails and oars, galley’ (Old French galee, galie), perhaps denoting an oarsman. 2. English: variant of Galilee, topographic or occupational name from Middle English galile(e), galilie ‘small chapel or porch at the entrance to a church’, possibly denoting someone who lived near a galilee or whose work was associated with one. 3. Scottish: variant of Gailey. 4. French: variant of Gallet 1. Compare Galey. 5. German: presumably a derivative of Gall.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Galley in the United States?
According to data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Galley has seen a decline between 2000 and 2010. During this period, its rank fell by approximately 18.42 percent from 19,187 to 22,721. Similarly, the number of people with this surname dropped by 13.83 percent, from 1,309 in 2000 to 1,128 in 2010. Consequently, the proportion of individuals with the Galley surname per 100,000 residents decreased by 22.45 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #19,187 | #22,721 | -18.42% |
| Count | 1,309 | 1,128 | -13.83% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.49 | 0.38 | -22.45% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Galley
The Galley surname's ethnic identity profile also saw changes over the same decade, as per Decennial U.S. Census data. While its association with White ethnicity decreased slightly (from 90.15% to 86.88%), it experienced a notable increase in representation among Black populations (6.11% to 7.54%). Furthermore, the surname began to appear among Asian/Pacific Islanders and American Indian and Alaskan Natives, where it was previously absent. The percentage of Galleys identifying as two or more races witnessed a significant upward trend, jumping from 0.99% to 2.39%. However, its linkage to Hispanic ethnicity saw a slight decrease, moving from 1.91% to 1.86%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 90.15% | 86.88% | -3.63% |
| Black | 6.11% | 7.54% | 23.4% |
| Two or More Races | 0.99% | 2.39% | 141.41% |
| Hispanic | 1.91% | 1.86% | -2.62% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0.71% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0.62% | 0% |