Surname Gaily - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'G'
Gaily: What does the surname Gaily mean?
The last name Gaily is of English origin and is believed to have originated from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It is a habitational name derived from Gally, an old spelling of 'gallery', referring to a place that has a passage or corridor. Alternately, the name is said to derive from the Old French 'galer', meaning 'merry', which could also have been the origin of the modern word 'gaiety'.
In the Middle English period (1150-1500), Gaily was occasionally used as a woman's given name, possibly derived from the French 'Gaille', similar to the name of medieval French saint, Agilus, indicating one from Gaul. The surname was first listed as a surname in records dating back to 1198 in the county of Norfolk, England.
The spelling variations for Gaily include Galley, Gally, Gallyon, Galey, Gayle, Gallet, Gail, Gayl and Gaille.
Gaily families were well established in several areas by the time of the British Civil War (1642-1651), when members of the family served for the Roundheads and the King's Army. The Gailys were recorded as landholders in County Norfolk in 1316 and a descendant of the family, Reverend John Gayle, was recorded as living in London in 1637.
The present day distribution of the name Gaily indicates there are now more people living with the surname Gaily in the United States than any other country, with almost 2,000 families.
The name Gaily signifies a proud heritage that is steeped in a rich history. It is a reminder of a time when family was important and values were held in high regard.
Order DNA origin analysisGaily: Where does the name Gaily come from?
The last name Gaily is a popular surname throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia. In the United Kingdom, it is particularly common in counties such as Northamptonshire, Cumbria, and Worcestershire. In Ireland, Gaily is most common in counties such as Cork and Clare, while in Australia, it is mainly found in western regions, such as Western Australia and South Australia.
Data from the Office of National Statistics in the United Kingdom indicates that Gaily is the 800th most common surname in the country as of 2019. Within that data, it was shown that approximately 0.1% of the population of the United Kingdom is named Gaily.
In Ireland, Gaily is also one of the most common surnames, ranking in the top 2000. Irish ancestry data shows that the name Gaily is most common in the province of Munster, where approximately 0.2% of the population is named Gaily.
In Australia, Gaily can be found throughout most of the country, but it is most common in Western Australia, where 0.2% of the population is named Gaily.
All in all, Gaily is a relatively common surname, but its frequency varies somewhat between the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia.
Variations of the surname Gaily
The surname Gaily is of English, Welsh and Irish origin. It is derived from several distinct sources, including Old English, Hebrew, and Welsh.
The Old English origin comes from the name Gale and has several spellings including Gaile, Gail, Gayle, Gayel, Galie, Geil, and Gyle. It is a name likely derived from the Old English word 'gala' which means 'happy' or 'cheerful', and may have been used as a descriptive nickname for a happy and cheerful person.
In Welsh, the name is derived from the personal name Sian, a shortened form of Siant (lion). Other variations of the Welsh spelling of Gaily includes Gaili, Gaill, and Gailli.
The Hebrew spelling of Gaily is Galy or Galya, derived from the Hebrew word galiyl which means 'exalted'.
Finally, Gaily also has origins in Ireland and is derived from the name McGailey, an anglicized version of the Irish name Mac Ruaileach. Ruaileach is derived from the Irish Gaelic word 'rua', and means 'red', 'ruddy', or 'descendant of a red-haired person'.
In conclusion, Gaily is a surname of English, Welsh, Irish, and Hebrew origin, with spellings and variants including Gaile, Gail, Gayle, Galy, Galya, Gaili, Gaal, Gaill, Gailli, McGailey, and Mac Ruaileach.
Famous people with the name Gaily
- Edward Gaily: American Football player and coach known for his time at Yale University.
- King Gaily: Emperor of the fictional kingdom of Abh in the Japanese anime series Crest of the Stars.
- Myrna Gaily: Former America model and actress.
- Paul Gaily: French aviator who flew across and competed in several air races in the 1930s.
- D'arcy Gaily: Canadian actor, artist and instrumentalist known for his active involvement in the local music and film scene.
- Liz Gaily: Professional bowler and winner of the Women's Professional Series Tour title in 1991.
- Sarah Gaily: British film and television actress best known for her roles in The Dark Knight Rises and The Last Jedi.
- Rainer Gaily: Professional tennis player who competed on the ATP tour in the 1980s.
- Andy Gaily: British composer, musician and sound technician, best known for his work in film and TV scores.
- Joseph Gaily: American pop, classical and jazz musician, arranger and conductor.