Surname Gallop - Meaning and Origin
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Gallop: What does the surname Gallop mean?
The last name Gallop is of word origin and is derived from the Old French word "galoper", which means “to run fast” or “to gallop”. It is believed to have first been used to describe a fast riding horse or the knight that rode it. As such, Gallop is often considered an occupational or nickname-based surname.
Gallop was likely a word of endearment used to describe a swift and reliable horse or a knight that often rode it with swiftness and bravery. Thus, it is often considered an occupational or nickname-based surname.
The surname Gallop also was used to describe a family who prided itself upon its quick and hardworking nature. Those with this last name were considered to have a “go-getter” attitude and a need for speed in all the tasks they undertook.
Today, those with the last name Gallop have a strong sense of accomplishment, pride, and reliability. This can be attributed to their ancestry and the individuals that earned the Gallop name by working hard and accomplishing their goals with vigor and speed.
Order DNA origin analysisGallop: Where does the name Gallop come from?
The last name Gallop is most strongly associated with the the United Kingdom and Ireland. There are record of Gallop families in 1881 census that originated from various counties across England, Wales, and Scotland. The last name is also associated with a smaller number of families in Wales and Ireland.
Today, Gallop remains a relatively rare surname in the United Kingdom with the highest concentration in Wales. According to data from the Office for National Statistics, in 2019, the Gallop surname had a total of only 430 occurrences across all of the UK. Many of those families reside in the Welsh counties Gwent, Powys, and Rhondda Cynon Taf. In these three counties, the Gallop surname accounted for approximately 300 of the occurrences in 2019. There were also records of plunder bearing the Gallop surname in Flintshire and Ceredigion, in Wales.
Northern Ireland, Ireland, and Scotland all have a limited distribution of the Gallop name. In Scotland, records from the 1851 census indicate that there were families living with the Gallop surname in Stirlingshire and Lanarkshire. In Northern Ireland the surname was recorded prominently in counties Antrim, Down, and Donegal in the mid 19th century. Records from the 1901 Ireland census indicate that there were a limited number of people bearing the Gallop surname living in counties Cork, Limerick, Mayo, and Tipperary.
While the last name is primarily associated with the United Kingdom and Ireland, it does have occurrences in other parts of the world, such as the United States and Canada where the name is sometimes found spelled as Gallopp.
Variations of the surname Gallop
The surname Gallop is of British origin and has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants are Galop, Gallopp, Galopp, Galleop, Galleopp, Galleope, and Gallupp. It is also possible to find the surnames Gallip, Gallipe, Gallap, Galleapp, Galleappe, Gallor, Gallorre, Gallood, Gollip and Gollipe.
Gallop is an occupational name referring to a horseman, derived from the Old French “galoper” which translated means “to gallop”. It is likely that the Gallop family held a hereditary position as horsemen to kings or noblemen, such as squires, grooms or jockeys.
The surname is primarily found in England and Wales. It is also present in Scotland, particularly in Aberdeenshire, and Ireland, mostly in Dublin and Ulster. In the United States, Gallop is found in purchasable records indexed as early as the 17th century.
The ultimately origin of the surname Gallop is uncertain. It can sometimes be linked to the Gaelic surname MacGillespie, which translates as son of the horseman. Alternatively, Gallop could also be derived from the French name Galopet, which was introduced into England after the Norman Invasion.
Variant spellings and surnames of Gallop are found around the world, including, but not limited to, Galoup in France, Galloppa in Italy, Galopa in Portugal and Galopin in Germany.
Famous people with the name Gallop
- Mark Gallop: Former Professional Soccer Player, Manager and Owner
- Kristin Gallop: American actress
- Shane Gallop: Professional Mixed martial Artist
- Andrew Gallop: Founder of the Gallop Foundation
- Karen Gallop: Former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
- Guy and Peachy Gallop: English Siblings, Olympic Cheerleading Coaches
- Ian Gallop: American Voice Actor
- Evan Gallop: American Television Producer
- David Gallop: Australian Sports Administrator
- Margaret Gallop: Political Activist and Organizer