Show ContentsGalasso History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The history of the ancestors of the Galasso family begins among the Pictish clans ancient Scotland. The name Galasso comes from the Gaelic name Gilleasbuig, which means the bishop's servant. The Gaelic word easbuig is borrowed from the Latin word episcopus, which means bishop. Patronymic names often substituted the name of a saint or other revered religious figure in place of a devout bearer's actual father. The name Galasso is regarded as the Gaelic cognate of the Anglo-Saxon personal name Archibald, for reasons that remain obscure.

Early Origins of the Galasso family

The surname Galasso was first found in Aberdeenshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Obar Dheathain), a historic county, and present day Council Area of Aberdeen, located in the Grampian region of northeastern Scotland.

For the origin of the name, Sir Thomas Innes tells us that the name is derived from Sliochd Gillies a Chieftain of the MacPhersons in Invershie. He places this branch of the MacPhersons, as descendants of Elias MacPherson, brother of Kenneth MacPherson, ancestor of the MacPherson Clan.

However, Gillies was recorded as living approximately 1250-1300, and this record is predated by researches by two other historians who place a Ewan filius Gillespie as witnessing a Charter by Alwoin, Earl of Lennox, granted in 1175. The connection between this earlier record and the MacPherson line is vague and uncertain but most historians agree that the Gillespie are of the Clan Chattan.

Early History of the Galasso family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Galasso research. Another 214 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1175, 1228, 1229, 1613, 1617, 1648, 1675, 1776, 1825 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Galasso History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Galasso Spelling Variations

Prior to the invention of the printing press in the last hundred years, documents were basically unique. Names were written according to sound, and often appeared differently each time they were recorded. Spelling variations of the name Galasso include Gillespie, Gilaspy, Gilaspie, Gilespie, Gilespy, Gillaspey, Gillaspie, Gillaspy, Gillespay, Gillespee, Gillespery, Gillespey, Gillespie, Gillespy, Gillispey and many more.

Early Notables of the Galasso family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was Patrick Gillespie (1617-1675), a Scottish minister, strong Covenanter, and Principal of Glasgow University by the support of Oliver Cromwell; George Gillespie (1613-1648), Scottish clergyman who in 1648 became minister...
Another 36 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Galasso Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Galasso Ranking

In the United States, the name Galasso is the 13,787th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Galasso is ranked the 8,581st most popular surname with an estimated 500 - 1,000 people with that name. 2

Ireland Migration of the Galasso family to Ireland

Some of the Galasso family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Galasso migration to the United States +

The freedom of the North American colonies was enticing, and many Scots left to make the great crossing. It was a long and hard journey, but its reward was a place where there was more land than people and tolerance was far easier to come by. Many of these people came together to fight for a new nation in the American War of Independence, while others remained loyal to the old order as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of Scots in North America have recovered much of this heritage in the 20th century through Clan societies and other such organizations. A search of immigration and passenger lists revealed many important and early immigrants to North America bearing the name of Galasso:

Galasso Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Angelo Galasso, aged 2, who landed in America, in 1906
  • Angelo Galasso, aged 38, who immigrated to the United States from S. Andrea, Italy, in 1910
  • Alfonso Galasso, aged 39, who landed in America from S. Andrea, Italy, in 1910
  • Antonio Galasso, aged 18, who settled in America from Acello Sabato, Italy, in 1911
  • Alessandro Galasso, aged 32, who immigrated to the United States from S. Andrea, Italy, in 1912
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Galasso (post 1700) +

  • Michael John Galasso (1949-2009), American composer, violinist, and music director
  • Robert Joseph Galasso (b. 1952), retired Major League Baseball pitcher
  • M. S. Galasso, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Montana 1st District, 1944 3
  • Giuseppe Galasso (1929-2018), Italian historian and politician, Member of the Chamber of Deputies from 1983 to 1994
  • Alessio Galasso (b. 1974), French rugby player
  • Gianluca Galasso (b. 1984), Italian professional footballer
  • Latino Galasso (1898-1949), Italian bronze medalist rower at the 1924 Summer Olympics


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 13) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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