Surname Gallups - Meaning and Origin

Gallups: What does the surname Gallups mean?

The last name Gallups is thought to originate from two possible sources. The first is from Middle English and Spanish and describes someone with a warm, outgoing disposition. It could also stem from an archaic French word "galops" meaning a gallop or trotting horse.

The name is likely related to the Gallop family of Devon, England, making it a place name surname. It is thought that Gallups first appeared as a name in the UK in the late 15th century or early 16th century.

Gallups is a unique surname and although there are typically several hundred bearers in the UK, United States, Canada, and Bermuda, there are far fewer households with the name in each country.

Since the late-20th century, Gallups has been particularly prevalent in the United States, where there are an estimated 1,500 individuals bearing the name. It is also found in Scotland, notably in Perthshire, but there are fewer Gallups there than in the US.

The name Gallups is an interesting one as it not only has a variety of possible origins, but also has its bearers spread across many countries, suggesting it has been carried by immigrants from its original location in Devon, England. With a relatively small number of Gallups living in each country, it could be argued that this is a rare and interesting surname.

Gallups: Where does the name Gallups come from?

The surname Gallups is most commonly found in the United States today. It has been recorded in a number of documents in the country since the 1600s, when immigrant families arrived from Europe. The surname is believed to be of English and Irish origin, and is probably derived from either a place-name or an occupational name from the Middle Ages.

In terms of an exact geographic location, Gallups is predominantly found in the southern region of the country, particularly in states like Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. Within those states, the Gallups surname is highly concentrated in counties like Clarke, Lowndes, and Winston in Mississippi, Lee and Russell in Alabama, and Bartow and Catoosa in Georgia. Other counties throughout the US where Gallups is relatively common include Coffey in Kansas, and Huron and Mason in Michigan.

The US census data from 2020 estimates the population with the Gallups surname in the US is around 1,200 people. This makes it a relatively rare name in comparison to some of the more popular surnames in the country. Interestingly, Gallups can also be found in relatively low numbers in several countries across the world, including Argentina, Netherlands, South Africa, and Sweden.

Variations of the surname Gallups

The surname Gallups is believed to have originated in England and is believed to be of Norman origin. The variant spellings and surnames of the same origin for this surname are Galups, Gallup, Gallop, Gallopp, Jallop, Jallopp, Gallupes, Gollop, Gollopp, Gollup, Gollups, Gallipes, and Gallope. It is believed that the surname is derived from the Old English word 'galla', meaning 'free', and the suffix 'hop' referring to a small enclosed valley.

The Gallups surname is most commonly found in England and the United States, as it first reached the shores of the former in the early 19th century, when some members of the surname emigrated from England. From examination of existing records of the parish registers of England, it is believed that the first recorded spelling of the Gallups surname was that of Galfopt, dated circa 1280, in the Court Rolls of Kent, England.

A wide range of variant spellings of the Gallups surname can be noted in a number of records from ancient times to the present day. The surname occurred as Galoppes, Gollup, Gollopp, Gallop, Jallop, and Gallupes in England during the 16th century, and as Galups in Scotland during the 18th century. In England, Gallups was most common in Yorkshire, whilst the spelling of Gallop was more common in Lincolnshire, according to records kept in the 18th century.

In the United States, the main spelling found in 1800s records is Gallup, whilst the spelling Gallop is the most common spelling in records from the State of Connecticut in the United States. This suggests that the spelling of the surname Gallups may have mutated from its variant spellings over time, thus providing further evidence to the theory that the Gallups surname has Norman origins.

Famous people with the name Gallups

• Ralph Gallups: An American baptist pastor and author.
• Davey Gallups: Professional golfer who won the 2003 Canadian Amateur Championship.
• SamGallups: former professional basketball player who played in the 1950's.
• Haley Gallups: American professional beach volleyball player.
• John Gallups: former professional football linebacker.
• Don Gallups: American songwriter, producer, and publisher.
• Arthur Gallups: Former head football coach at the University of Maine.
• Jack Gallups: Former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Philadelphia Phillies.
• Abigail Gallups: Reality television star known for appearing on The Amazing Race.
• Richard Gallups: British actor known for his roles in films such as The Importance of Being Earnest.

Other surnames

GallupGallus