Contents [hide]

Galt History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Galt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Ireland
Scotland

The Galt family has descended through the lines of the ancient Normans that came to England following their Conquest of England in 1066. The Galt name reveals that an early member was a person with a fancied resemblance to the wild boar. The name derives fom the Old Norse word goltr, which means boar. The boar, a hairy tusked animal similar to a pig, was once quite populous in England, but now remains only on continental Europe. Hunting boar was a favorite sport during the Middle Ages, and the sport contributed to its extinction in the British Isles.

Early Origins of the Galt family

The surname Galt was first found in Perthshire where they held a family seat from very early times. Gall was the name given to strangers, as in the Lowland Galt, but the name probably came from France. Conjecturally they moved north to Scotland with King David of Scotland.

Early History of the Galt family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Galt research. Another 229 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1334, 1367, 1397, 1399, 1450, 1469, 1499, 1513, 1525, 1533, 1547, 1613, 1640, 1737, 1779, 1839 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Galt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Galt Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Galt family name include Gall, Gauld, Gault, Galt, Gaw, Gawe, Gauwe and others.

Early Notables of the Galt family

More information is included under the topic Early Galt Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Galt family to Ireland

Some of the Galt family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 91 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Galt migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Galt family to immigrate North America:

Galt Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Galt, who settled in Salem, Massachusetts in 1620
William Galt, who settled in Salem Massachusetts in 1635
Richard Galt, who settled in Providence Rhode Island in 1635

Galt Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Benjamin and William Galt, who settled in New Hampshire in 1718
Benjamin Galt, who settled in New Hampshire in 1718
Benjamin Galt, who arrived in New England in 1718
Samuel Galt, who landed in New England in 1721 1
Alexander Galt, who settled in New Hampshire in 1750

Galt Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Richard Galt, who landed in Maryland in 1809 1
Richardson Galt, who arrived in Maryland in 1809 1
Adam Galt, who settled in Baltimore in 1825
Archibald Galt, who settled in Boston in 1850
Matthew Galt, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1880

Galt migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Galt Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Alexander Tilloch Galt, who settled in Ontario in 1826

Galt migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Galt Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Ann Galt, (b. 1820), aged 21, Scottish convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 7 years for shop lifting, transported aboard the "Emma Eugenia" on 16th November 1841, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), she died in 1884 2

Galt migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Galt Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

David Galt, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Annie Wilson" in 1863

Contemporary Notables of the name Galt (post 1700) +

Dr. Francis Land Galt (1833-1915), American surgeon and acting paymaster of the famed Confederate raider CSS Alabama
Captain William Wylie Galt, American officer awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1944
Dwight B. Galt, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Navy, during World War II, credited with 5 aerial victories
Sharrie Kay Galt, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Montana, 2012 3
Leland L. Galt, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for U.S. Representative from Michigan 5th District, 1934 3
Jack Galt, American Republican politician, Presidential Elector for Montana, 1996, 2000 3
Hugh A. Galt, American politician, Delegate to Ohio convention to ratify 21st amendment, 1933 3
Ezekiel I. Galt, American Democratic Party politician, Postmaster at Smyrna, Delaware, 1853-56 3
Errol Thomas Galt, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Montana, 1988 (alternate), 2008, 2012; Member of Republican National Committee from Montana, 2008-12; Presidential Elector for Montana, 2012 3
Errol Fay Galt (1889-1975), American Republican politician, Member of Montana State Senate, 1930-34; Delegate to Republican National Convention from Montana, 1944 (alternate), 1948 3
... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Galt Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Patentia Vincit
Motto Translation: Patience conquers.

Citations +

Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emma-eugenia
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html