Show ContentsGallen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

From the historical and enchanting region of France emerged a multitude of notable family names, including that of the distinguished Gallen family. Originally, the people in this region went by one (personal) name. Surnames evolved during the Middle Ages when people began to assume an extra name to avoid confusion and to further identify themselves. These names then began to become "fixed" or hereditary between the generations. One of the types of names adopted as surnames were those derived from nicknames. Nicknames, or "eke-names," were an added name that generally reflected some physical characteristics or other attribute of the person that used the name. The Gallen surname derives from the Old French word "galer," which meant "to enjoy oneself;" and as such was a nickname for a cheerful or high-spirited person.

Early Origins of the Gallen family

The surname Gallen was first found in Picardy (French: Picardie) in northern France, where they held a family seat.

Early History of the Gallen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gallen research. Another 95 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1646, 1715 and 1811 are included under the topic Early Gallen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gallen Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Gallant, Gallante, Gallont, Galant, Gallantes, Galante, Galantes, Gallonte, Gallontes, Galonte, Galontes, Callant, Callantes, Callante, Callont, Calant, Calante, Calantes, Callonte, Callontes, Calonte, Calontes, Galland, Galand, Galen, Gallen, Galande, Gallande, Galandes, Gallandes, Galland and many more.

Early Notables of the Gallen family

Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gallen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gallen Ranking

In France, the name Gallen is the 1,335th most popular surname with an estimated 4,249 people with that name. 1


United States Gallen migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gallen Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Alice Gallen, who settled in Maryland in 1664
  • Joseph Gallen, who arrived in Maryland in 1664 2
  • Alexander Gallen, who settled in Maryland in 1667
Gallen Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Biddy Gallen, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1811 2
  • Catherine Gallen, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1811 2
  • Hugh Gallen, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1811 2
  • James Gallen, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1811 2
  • Margaret Gallen, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1811 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Gallen migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gallen Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Catherine Gallen, aged 24, a spinster, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Protector" in 1834
  • Nancy Gallen, aged 27, a spinster, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Protector" in 1834

New Zealand Gallen 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:

Gallen Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Gallen, (b. 1850), aged 24, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Peter Denny" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 26th July 1874 3
  • Mrs. Eliza Gallen, (b. 1849), aged 25, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Peter Denny" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 26th July 1874 3
  • Miss Georgina Gallen, (b. 1873), aged 1, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Peter Denny" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 26th July 1874 3
  • Miss Charlotte Gallen, (b. 1874), aged 2 months, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Peter Denny" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 26th July 1874 3
  • Hugh Gallen, aged 24, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "British Queen" in 1883 4
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  2. 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)
  3. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  4. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th November 2011). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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