Show ContentsGallupe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Gallupe is a name whose history dates far back into the mists of early British times to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes. It is a name for a person who was a fast runner. The surname is derived from the Old Norman word walup and the Old French word galop. The word eventually became wallop which literally means to run. Therefore, the surname Gallupe described the physical abilities of the original bearer.

Another source agrees the name was of French origin but was derived from "a flat-bottomed boat used to load and unload ships, the surname being applied to the crew members." 1

And yet another source claims that the name could have been "local-the last syllable being a corruption of Hope-Galhope." 2 This latter simplistic entry essentially means that the 19th century author proposes that the name could have been a local name from "Hope-Galhope," a place that we cannot find today.

Early Origins of the Gallupe family

The surname Gallupe was first found in Dorset at Strode, where the family has "a tradition of Danish or Swedish descent from a soldier of fortune who was living in 1465." 2

Early History of the Gallupe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gallupe research. Another 60 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1590, 1619, 1625, 1629, 1640, 1650 and 1660 are included under the topic Early Gallupe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gallupe Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Gallupe has been recorded under many different variations, including Gollop, Gallop, Gallup, Gollup and others.

Early Notables of the Gallupe family

Notables of the family at this time include George Gallop or Gollop (1590-1650), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Southampton (1625-1629) and (1640-1650). Son of Thomas Gallop, of Strode, Dorset, he was a wealthy merchant who acquired Southampton Castle in 1619. He built a windmill on the motte of the castle. Only...
Another 53 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gallupe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Gallupe family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Gallupe or a variant listed above: Anne, Christobel, Humphrey and John Gallop who settled in Nantasket in 1630.



  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.


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