Galay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Family Crest Image (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

The Galay name was originally an Anglo-Saxon name that was given to a galleyman or rower. Occupational names that were derived from the common trades of the medieval era transcended European cultural and linguistic boundaries. Occupational names have remained fairly common in the modern period. This is attested to by the continuing appearance of occupational suffixes at the end of many English surnames. Some of these suffixes include: herd, monger, maker, hewer, smith, and wright. Similarly, surnames of office, which include military, judicial, papal and other positions of authority, are widespread throughout Europe. Those who were involved in the military, or feudal armies, were given names such as the English surname Archer, the French name Chevalier and the German name Jeger, which means hunter. Names that were derived from judicial and papal titles, such as Bailiffe, Squire and Abbott, are still commonly seen with the same surname spelling today.

Early Origins of the Galay family

The surname Galay was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat from very early times.

Important Dates for the Galay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Galay research. Another 72 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1304 is included under the topic Early Galay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Galay Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Galay has undergone many spelling variations, including Galley, Gallie, Gally, Galey, Gally and others.

Early Notables of the Galay family (pre 1700)

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

Migration of the Galay family

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Galay were among those contributors: John Galley purchased land in Salem, Massachusetts in 1637. In the same year Thomas Galley landed on the island of St. Christopher; William Galley settled in Virginia in 1637.