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![Show Contents]() O'Gallivan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Ireland
Irish surnames have had their original forms altered in many ways. Before being translated into English, O'Gallivan appeared as Ó Gealbhain, derived from the words "geal," which means "bright," and "ban," which means "white." 1 Early Origins of the O'Gallivan familyThe surname O'Gallivan was first found in County Clare (Irish: An Clár) located on the west coast of Ireland in the province of Munster, where they are a sept of Thomond. 2 More recently, the family is very numerous in Kerry where it is more often spelt Gallivan. 2 Early History of the O'Gallivan familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Gallivan research. Another 46 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1317, 1826, 1831, 1860, 1864, 1888, 1891 and 1904 are included under the topic Early O'Gallivan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. O'Gallivan Spelling VariationsNames written in official documents were generally spelt as they sounded, leading to the problem of one name being recorded under several different variations, creating the illusion in records of more than one person. Among the many spelling variations of the surname O'Gallivan that are preserved in documents of the family history are Galvin, Gallivan, O'Galvin and others. Early Notables of the O'Gallivan familyProminent amongst the family at this time was Dan Leno (1860-1904) stage name of George Wild Galvin, the famous English comedian. He was a leading English music hall comedian and musical theatre actor, best known for his music hall act and for his roles in the annual pantomimes that...
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early O'Gallivan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the O'Gallivan familyThe English-ruled Ireland of the late 18th and 19th centuries featured a rapidly increasing population and an agricultural-based economy. This combination proved to be disastrous in the 1840s after a couple of failed potato harvests. Thousands died of disease and starvation, and thousands more left the country, often bound for North America. Those that survived the journey to North America were put to work building the bridges, canals, roadways, and railways needed for the development of an industrial society. Those Irish, although often despised by those already established in North American cities and towns, played an instrumental role in making Canada and the United States the powerful and wealthy nations that they are today. An examination of early immigration and passenger lists has shown many immigrants bearing the name O'Gallivan: James, Joseph, Patrick, Simon, Thomas Galvin who arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860; David Galvin settled in Maryland in 1776; J. Galvin settled in Baltimore Maryland in 1822.
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
- MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)
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