Surname Galt - Meaning and Origin
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Galt: What does the surname Galt mean?
The last name Galt is of Scottish and Northern Irish origin. It indicates someone who was originally from the town of Galt in Scotland, which is now known as Cumbria. The name likely refers to someone who lived near a steep valley.
Today, the name Galt is still quite common in the United Kingdom as well as in North America. It is particularly prevalent in Canada, a country to which a large number of Scots immigrated during the 19th Century.
In earlier times, people with the name Galt may have been associated with aspects of labor and trade. It is possible that those originally from the town of Galt could have been craftsmen, merchants, or industrialists.
All in all, the name Galt is derived from the town of Galt in Scotland and indicates a Scottish or Northern Irish origin. It is likely that people with the name Galt have had some form of contact with labor and trade at some point in their ancestry, although some modern Galt families may have had other sources of employment.
Order DNA origin analysisGalt: Where does the name Galt come from?
The last name Galt is most commonly found today in English-speaking countries such as Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. A prominent population of people with the last name Galt can also be found in Scotland. Scotland is believed to be the country of origin for the Galt surname, and it appears that a large number of people with this last name moved to other countries from Scotland centuries ago.
In Canada, Galt can be found in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Alberta, and Nova Scotia. The United States has the largest population of people with the last name Galt, particularly in California, Wisconsin, Texas, New York, and Michigan. Within the United Kingdom, Galt is a popular surname in Scotland, but it can also be found in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland to a lesser extent.
In Australia, Galt is most common in the states of New South Wales and Victoria. New Zealand also has a significant population of people with the Galt surname, mainly living in Auckland, Wellington, and Canterbury.
In recent years, more people with the last name Galt have been migrating to these English-speaking countries from other countries to start new lives or find work. This has helped to make Galt a more globally- and widely-recognized name.
Variations of the surname Galt
The surname Galt has a long and interesting family history. Its variants include Gault, Galte, Geld, Guild, Guld and Galtee. Spellings can include Gault, Galt, Gaelte, Galte, Gaelt, Gaelt and Galti, as well as corresponding variations of surname in other languages such as "Galdi" in Italian, "Galde" in French and "Galdus" in Latin. Variations of the surname can also be found in Scotland and England, where moderately common spellings are Gael and Galle.
In Scotland, the surname Galt is derived from a father's personal name or occupation. This form of origin is termed a "patronymic" and in this case the surname is derived from the Gaelic elements "guild", which means "bright" or "flowing", and "dubh", meaning "black". The surname was first recorded as "Galthe" in Scotland in 1266.
Surnames derived from a father's personal name tend to be the most common in the United Kingdom. As the use of surnames became widespread from the 11th century onwards, many surnames that previously had more of an occupational meaning became transferred into a patronymic form.
Spelling variations of the surname Galt also include Galty, Geld, Gell and Gaill. These variations may have originated in England before migrating to Scotland. Alternate spellings of the surname Galt that are less common in Scotland are Gauld, Galtee and Gwild.
In some cases, the surnames Galte and Gault are variants of the French surname Galtee. The surname Galtee is derived from the Old French "galtiere", which means "one who hunts with a kite".
In other cases, Galt may be derived from the occupational surname Gold. This name was adopted by English and Scottish people who worked as goldsmiths or as multiple gold miners.
The surname Galt is also believed to have several other origins, including German, Greek and Hebrew. For example, German variants of the surname Galt are Graut, Gral and Grahl. Greek origins could include the variant Galtsy, while alternative spellings such as Galed and Galtez seem to be of Hebrew origin.
Famous people with the name Galt
- John Galt, Scottish novelist
- The Galt family of Virginia (also known as the Gallatin family), a prominent American political family
- Jean-Guy Galt, Quebec businessman
- Barb Galt, Canadian stage, television, and film actress
- Lillian Galt, English stage and screen actress
- David Galt, Scottish jockey
- Sir George Galt, British civil servant
- Roger Galt, English musician
- Robin Galt, Canadian artist
- Michael Galt, American entrepreneur