McGaloway History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

The surname McGaloway was first used in the Scottish/English Borderlands by an ancient Scottish people called the Strathclyde-Britons. It was a name for someone who lived in Galloway, Scotland, an area covering what is now the counties of Kircudbright and Wigtown.

Early Origins of the McGaloway family

The surname McGaloway was first found in Galloway (Gaelic: Gall-ghaidhealaibh), an area of southwestern Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Dumfries and Galloway, that formerly consisted of the counties of Wigtown (West Galloway) and Kirkcudbright (East Galloway), where they held a family seat from very early times.

Early History of the McGaloway family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McGaloway research. Another 177 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1230, 1405, 1430, 1551, 1576, 1580, 1581, 1606, 1607, 1610, 1615, 1619, 1626, 1632 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McGaloway History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McGaloway Spelling Variations

The many spelling variations in Medieval Scottish names result from the fact that scribes in that era spelled words according to sound. Translation too, was an undeveloped science, and many names were altered into complete obscurity. Over the years McGaloway has been spelled Galloway, Gallaway, Gallway, Gallowey, Gallaraw, Gallowray, Gallery and many more.

Early Notables of the McGaloway family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Patrick Galloway (1551?-1626?), Scottish divine, born about 1551. In 1576 he was appointed minister of the parishes of Foulis Easter and Longforgan, Perthshire. On 14 Nov, 1580 he was called to the Middle Church at Perth, and admitted on 24 April 1581. Galloway was popular as a preacher, and his services were sought in 1606 as...
Another 64 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McGaloway Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the McGaloway family to Ireland

Some of the McGaloway family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the McGaloway family

To escape the uncertainties and discrimination faced in Scotland, many decided to head out for North America. Once they arrived, many Scots fought with relish in the American War of Independence; some went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Many ancestors of these Scots have recovered their lost national heritage in the 20th century through Clan organizations and Scottish historical societies. Among the settlers to North America were: Rev. George Galloway who arrived in York county, Ontario in 1814; Jessie Galloway who arrived in Victoria, county, Ontario in 1831; James and Eliza Gallery who arrived in New York in 1811.