Galloway Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Galloway Family History

Galloway Family History

The ancient origin of the name Galloway was found in the irishsurnames.com archives.

Surnames developed a wide number of variants over the centuries. Many different spelling variations of the same name can be traced back to a single original root. Also, when a bearer of a name emigrated from Ireland it was not uncommon that their original name would be incorrectly transcribed in the record books upon arrival at their new location. Some names have dozens of spelling variations. Some Surnames were also altered over the years based on how they sounded phonetically, by their sound, and depending on the prevailing political conditions it may have been advantageous to change a name from one language to another. This was especially so in Ireland where most Gaelic names were 'anglicized' at some stage.

Variants of the name Galloway include Galloay, Gallway, Gallowaye, Calloway, Callway and Calloway. This is a locational name from the district of Galloway in Scotland. From very early times persons bearing this name where found throughout Scotland. In the sixteenth century a family of the name settled in Dumbartonshire with others settling on the east coast. This name is found in many mediaeval manuscripts in Scotland and examples of such are a Thomas de Galwethia, Earl of Atholl, who made a gift of lands to the Abbey of Neubotle, in the year 1230. A John Galway was Master of a ship belonging to Sir John of Mountgomery, in the year 1405. Like their Irish Kinsmen many Scots were forced to seek emigration after the 1745 Rebellion and also because of the clearances of whole populations by landlords during the nineteenth century. In Ireland the names Galloway and Galwey are derived from the Norman 'de Gallaidhe' and have existed since the thirteenth century. These names are found mainly in Ulster Province and in County Cork. Some Galloways derive their name from the city of Galway.The Galloway family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Galloway descendants.