Surname Geales - Meaning and Origin

Geales: What does the surname Geales mean?

The last name Geales is believed to be of French origins and is primarily found throughout England and Scotland, with some prevalent throughout Ireland. It is derived from the Olde French word ‘gaill’, meaning an active young man or exuberant teenager. It is thought that those who carried the name would often have been portrayed as energetic and brave.

The spelling of the name evolved from its original form and changed from Geales to the more common spelling of Gale, which is found throughout the United Kingdom. A variant of the name is also found in France and other parts of the world, taking the name Beales or Beal.

The original use of the name represents a sense of youthfulness and enthusiasm, traits which are still attributed to the Geales family today. They are thought to have come from the ancient Norman reign of 1066 and those who carried the name at that time were thought to be brave and resourceful.

The Geales family still retained their original energy and bravery throughout the centuries, often leading distinguished military positions and some even took up important positions in commerce, government and law. Those who continue to carry the name today are thought to uphold the same traits and ambitious spirit.

Geales: Where does the name Geales come from?

The last name Geales is most commonly found in Australia. This surname originated as a variation of the given name Gale, which in turn derives from the Latin galilaeus, meaning "from Galilee". The name Geales is quite prevalent in Australia, especially in New South Wales. Geales is also found in the United States, Canada, Scotland, and England.

In Australia, the Geales family is believed to have arrived in the late 1700s, with initial members settling in certain areas along the coast between Sydney and Newcastle. Descendants of the Geales have spread throughout Australia, including in Victoria, South Australia, and Perth.

In the United States, the largest population of Geales is found in California, followed by Texas and Florida. Most of the Geales in the United States and Canada are believed to have descended from Joseph Geales, a British soldier who fought in the Revolutionary War and settled in Virginia.

In England, Geales can be found mainly in the South, particularly London and the surrounding areas. In Scotland, many of the Geales settled in Lanarkshire and nearby towns in the mid-1800s.

The Geales surname is still common today, although individual members of the Geales family are scattered throughout the world. No matter where one finds them, many of the Geales family still share a common heritage and link to the small coastal town in Australia that claims the original origins of the name.

Variations of the surname Geales

Geales is an uncommon surname of English origin. Geales is an old English name which is said to have derived from the personal name Gale, or the Middle English name Gayle. It was first found in the county Devon, where they were anciently seated as Lords of the manor.

Variants of the surname Geales include Gales, Gale, Gayle, Gayels, Gaile, Gail, Gails, Gayles, Gyle, and Gyles. There are also some record found of the surnames starting with a ‘C’ such as Cale, Cail, and Ceale.

Spellings of the same origin include; Geyle, Giele, Geels, Geal, Gealie, Geil, and Geele. Many of these spellings were recorded in the Devon area as early as the 14th Century in register entries or medieval records.

Surnames of the same origin include Galehouse, Gaylord, Galaize, Galer, Camell, Gaille, Galay, Gallay, and Gyles. This range of variants and spellings show the evolution over time of the Geales surname.

As the Geales surname is rather uncommon, there is not a great deal of information on its origins. It is likely, however, that the likely derivation is from the Middle English personal name ‘Gale’ or ‘Gayle’ - an old English name which means, "from the small fertile plain." It is also likely that the name may be derived from the Old English ‘gael’ which has the meaning of ‘gawk’ or ‘fool’.

Famous people with the name Geales

• Traci Geales: American novelist and television writer
• Andre Geales: Scottish poet
• Bobby Geales: Former professional English footballer
• Brad Geales: American football player
• Chris Geales: English footballer
• David J. Geales: Retired British physicist
• Gregg Geales: American archaeologist
• John Geales: English rugby union player
• Josh Geales: American professional wrestler
• Mervyn Geales: English cricketer
• Micah Geales: British cinematographer
• Paul Geales: English cricketer
• Pete Geales: American professional baseball player
• Richard Geales: English actor
• Robert Geales: American football coach
• Stephen Geales: British scholar
• Steve Geales: English musician
• Colin J. Geales: American philosopher
• David Geales: Northern Ireland International footballer
• David T. Geales: British engineer
• Donald Geales: American film editor
• Frazer Geales: Former political advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada
• Garfield Geales: Canadian professional basketball player
• Harry Geales: English footballer
• Keith Geales: Canadian actor
• Neville Geales: English television actor
• Roy Geales: English rugby league player
• Tony Geales: British gardener

Other surnames

Gealee