Show ContentsGaul History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The distinguished German surname Gaul is derived from the Celtic word "Gallus," meaning "foreigner, stranger." During the Middle Ages, the name was popular throughout Europe in various forms due to the fame of St. Gall, a 7th century Irish monk. "Gaul" was initially bestowed as a personal name in Germany, and was likely transformed into a surname during the late 11th century.

Early Origins of the Gaul family

The surname Gaul was first found in various regions of Germany. The surname emerged independently in the regions of Bavaria, Pomerania, Silesia, and Oldenburg, creating several branches of the family as early as the 13th century. The young Gaul family was instrumental during this early period, each branch playing a major role in the development of medieval German society in its particular region.

Early History of the Gaul family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gaul research. Another 108 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1595, 1601, 1650, 1812, 1815, 1846, 1855 and 1910 are included under the topic Early Gaul History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gaul Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Gall, Gallus, Gaul, Gaw, Galuska, Galusha, Galuscha, Galluska, Gallusha, Galle, Kala, Kalis and many more.

Early Notables of the Gaul family

Another 42 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gaul Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gaul Ranking

In the United States, the name Gaul is the 7,408th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1


United States Gaul migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gaul Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Johann Ulrick Gaul, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1733 2
  • Johan Adam Gaul, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1743 2
  • Reinhart Gaul, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1748 2
  • Johannes Gaul, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1764 2
  • Johan Martin Gaul, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1770 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Gaul Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Gaul, aged 35, who landed in Barnstable, Massachusetts in 1821 2
  • William Gaul, who landed in Mississippi in 1839 2
  • Patrick Gaul, who arrived in St Clair County, Illinois in 1870 2
  • Fred Gaul, who arrived in America in 1889 2

Canada Gaul migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gaul Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Ellen Gaul, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1840
  • Pierce Gaul, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1843
  • Catherine Gaul married in Douglastown, Quebec, in 1846
  • Mr. John Gaul, aged 8 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Columbia" departing from the port of Sligo, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in June 1847 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Gaul (post 1700) +

  • Harvey Bartlett Gaul (1881-1945), American composer, organist, choirmaster, lecturer, music critic and writer
  • Bryan Gaul (b. 1989), American soccer player from Naperville, Illinois
  • Samuel M. Gaul, American politician, Mayor of Camden, New Jersey, 1871-74 4
  • Mary Ann Gaul, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1972 4
  • Francis E. Gaul, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Ohio 10th District, 1994 4
  • Edward L. Gaul, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 13th District, 1880 4
  • Michael "Mike" Gaul (b. 1973), Canadian former professional NHL ice hockey defenceman from Lachine, Quebec
  • Charly Gaul (1932-2005), Luxembourg professional cyclist who won the Giro d'Italia in 1956 and 1959

RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. Richard Gaul, English Greaser from Kirkdale, Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 5
  • Mr. Bart Gaul, Irish Second Waiter from Wexford, Ireland, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 5


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  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. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 30)
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 3) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  5. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 10) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/


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