O'Galivan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Ireland

Etymology of O'Galivan

Irish surnames have had their original forms altered in many ways. Before being translated into English, O'Galivan appeared as Ó Gealbhain, derived from the words "geal," which means "bright," and "ban," which means "white." 1

Early Origins of the O'Galivan family

Early History of the O'Galivan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Galivan 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'Galivan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

O'Galivan Spelling Variations

The search for the origins of the name O'Galivan family name revealed numerous spelling variations. These variants can be somewhat accounted for when it is realized that before widespread literacy people only recognized their name by pronunciation; it was up to scribes to decide how it was to be formally recorded. Variations found include Galvin, Gallivan, O'Galvin and others.

Early Notables of the O'Galivan family

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 were popular at London's Theatre Royal, Drury Lane...
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early O'Galivan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the O'Galivan family

Thousands of Irish left in their homeland in the 18th and 19th centuries to escape the religious and political discrimination they experienced primarily at the hands of the English, and in the search of a plot of land to call their own. These immigrants arrived at the eastern shores of North America, early on settling and breaking the land, and, later, building the bridges, canals, and railroads essential to the emerging nations of United States and Canada. Many others would toil for low wages in the dangerous factories of the day. Although there had been a steady migration of Irish to North America over these years, the greatest influx of Irish immigrants came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the Irish name O'Galivan or a variant listed above: 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.