Gallant
A surname from an old word for a brave, courteous, or noble person.
The #3,931 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 34,112 Americans shares it.
Etymology
This surname comes from Middle English and Anglo-Norman uses of gallant, meaning brave, valiant, courteous, or noble in bearing. The word ultimately goes back to Old French forms such as gallant and related adjectives used as a compliment or praise-name. As a surname, it would have begun as a nickname for someone admired for gallantry or fine conduct.
History
Historic records show the name in medieval England as forms such as Galannt and Galaunt, and later it appears in English-speaking records with the modern spelling Gallant. Some 19th-century writers also linked it with the sense 'brave in war.' The surname is now found in Britain, North America, and other English-speaking regions.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
A related medieval nickname, Gallard, was often treated as meaning much the same thing: lively, brave, or gallant.
From the historical record
“known to me, whence belike Gallon. GALLANT. R.G. 16. Brave in war. Galaunt, H.R. GALLARD. See Gaylord. ILR. Gallard. GALLAWAY. See Galloway. GALLON. O. ISTorse gallhr, crazy. Fer- guson. The H.R. forms are Galien, Galiuu, Gallon, Galun, and Galeyn. GALhOT. Probably local— the last syllable being a coiTuption of…”
— Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom