Galloway
A Scottish locational surname meaning someone from Galloway, the southwest corner of Scotland.
The #1,002 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 8,844 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Galloway is a habitational surname taken from the district of Galloway in southwest Scotland. The place-name is very old and is usually explained from Gaelic elements, though the precise original meaning is not certain. The surname therefore began as a simple identifier for a person who came from that region.
History
Medieval records show spellings such as Galaway and Galewey, and the name spread beyond Scotland into northern England quite early. The surname is especially associated with border movement between Scotland, Northumberland, Yorkshire, and later other parts of Britain and North America. It has also been used occasionally as a place-based surname for families with no direct connection to the modern Scottish county boundary.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The same place-name gave rise to both the modern surname Galloway and the older historical habitational forms found in medieval English records.
From the historical record
“hope. GALLOWAY. An extensive district forming the S.W. corner of Scotland. The surname is written in the H.R., Galaway and Galewey. GiVLLOWS. From residence near a place of public execution ; or perhaps the hangman himself. GALEY. GALLEY. Scandinavian surnames, which Ferguson deduces from (/dli, crazy.”
— Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom