Surname Gailley - Meaning and Origin
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Gailley: What does the surname Gailley mean?
The last name Gailley is of French origin with a meaning of 'foreign'. The name is derived from the French given name Gaillard meaning 'vigourous, energetic, lively' and lei meaning 'the'. This suggests that those bearing this name are of strong character, full of life and witty.
Gailley may be found in the Calvados region of northwest France, though it may now be more commonly found throughout elsewhere in Europe. It has been suggested that the family could have come to England via the Norman invasion, with one branch of the family remaining in France and another in England.
Those with the surname Gailley may be found in the UK, France, the United States, and Canada, among others. In some countries, the spelling of Gailley may have changed over time, such as to Galli in Italy, Gailleux in Canada, and Gaily in the United States.
Today, those with the Gailley surname are likely to be proud of their heritage, and many retain the strong, energetic character that their ancestors are said to have embodied.
Order DNA origin analysisGailley: Where does the name Gailley come from?
The last name Gailley is primarily concentrated in France today. According to the data by Forebears, an online genealogy firm, the Gailley family is found in 74 cities or towns of France, with the most populous areas being the city of Versailles and the town of La Gravelle.
In the early 1900s, the Gailley family spread from France to the United States and Canada as a result of the waves of European immigration. It is now also found in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. According to the data provided by Forebears, the last name Gailley was most popular in the United Kingdom in 2019, with a total population of 18 people who shared the name.
In France, the Gailley family is commonly associated with professions like merchants, farmer, and shoemakers. Today, Gailley descendants are found across various professions, such as academics, writers, and entrepreneurs. Some of the notable people with the last name include Canadian singer-songwriter Roch Voisine and René Gailley, a French artist who was a portraitist and a sculptor.
Overall, the last name Gailley is most prevalent today in France, as the nation is the ancestral homeland of the family. There are, however, numerous other countries where Gailley descendants can be found, making this family a well-known surname all over the world.
Variations of the surname Gailley
The surname Gailley is commonly seen in many parts of the world in different forms due to its global origins. One of the earliest known forms of this surname is its English spelling, Galley. This spelling may be found in locations such as Scotland, England and other English-speaking countries.
Alternate spellings and variations of this surname may include Gailie, Galee, Galey, Gayley, Gailey, Gaylie, Gaillie, Gaill, Gayl, Gayll and many others.
The Gaelic and Irish versions of Gailley are Mac Aedhagain and Mac Aodha. Depending on the location, this name can have its original Irish spelling of Mac Aodha (McAodh), Mac Aedhagain (McAedhagán), or sometimes shorten it to Gale or Gil.
The Gailley surname is most commonly seen in Irish culture and can also be found in areas with Irish influence. For example, in North America, many immigrants of British and Irish descent have used forms of this surname, including Galley, Gailie, Gailey, etc. This surname may also be found in Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales, France and other countries.
The Gailley surname is made up of two distinct parts: Ail or Oille, which in Irish means little and Mac, which is a common prefix in Irish meaning son. Together, the meaning of Gailley could be interpreted as "son of the little one".
Altogether, the surname Gailley, its variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, provide a range of ways that this surname can be seen around the world.
Famous people with the name Gailley
- Ash Gailley: Canadian actress
- Dean Gailley: renowned Canadian actor
- Mark Gailley: American football cornerback
- Chris Gailley: former professional baseball player
- Laura Gailley: Canadian Olympic figure skater
- Robin Gailley: English singer-songwriter
- Sam Gailley: Canadian hockey player
- Nick Gailley: British tennis and volleyball player
- Phil Gailley: Australian professional soccer player
- Dan Gailley: American landscape architect