Galler is a surname of German and Anglo-Norman French origin and a common name of Jewish families in Poland, Israel, and the United States. It is estimated that fewer than 4,000 individuals have this name worldwide.[1] The name is also found as Galier, Gallier, Galor, Galer, and Gal-Or. It may also be a Russian language rendering of the surname Haller.
Notable people with this surname include:
- Bernard Galler (1928–2006), American mathematician and computer scientist
- Bruno Galler (born 1946), Swiss football referee
- Lev Galler (1883–1950), Russian military leader
German surname
editGaller is one of the rarest German surnames, occurring mainly in Germany (90%), the United States (3%), and Switzerland (7%). Its origins predate medieval times in Germany. The first known mention of this name was in Nürburg (a tribal area), during the Holy Roman Empire. It would be classified as a protestant name, although it predates the Protestant Reformation.[2] People associated with St. Gallen in Switzerland are also called gallers.
Anglo-Norman French surname
editGaller is from the Old French "galure" or "galier", a coxcomb or spark, usually given to someone who was happy, good-humored, or of pleasant temperament. The Old French is a form of Waller, which derives from the Anglo-Norman French Wallier.[3] The name may also derive from the nickname Galliard, meaning bold or joyous.[4]
Jewish family name
editGaller is a common name of Jewish families who lived in Poland for hundreds of years prior to 1942 and who currently live in Israel and the United States. Examples in Poland: Lipa [Lippa] Galler, Benjamin Galler, Abraham Galler, David Galler, and Israel Galler. In Israel: Benjamin Galler, Gadi Galler, Dan Galler, Tzvi Galler, and Offer Galler. Some of the Gallers in Israel have changed their name to Galor, Gal-or and Gal, like Amir Gal-Or, Benjamin Gal-Or, Gillad Galor, Talia Gal-Or, Raz Gal-Or, Amit Gal-Or, Gonen Galor, Ariel Galor, Esther Gal-Or, and Naomi Gal-Or.[2]
German archives estimates that only about 3,800+ people bear the surname Galler worldwide.
See also
edit- Galor (surname)
- Gallier
- Galler-Rabinowitz, American ice dancer
- Amir Gal-Or (born 1962), Israeli entrepreneur
- Katharina Galor (fl. 2000s), Israeli archaeologist
- Oded Galor (fl. c. 1900s), Israeli economist & academic
References
edit- ^ "Surname Galler", GeneaNet, accessed 30 September 2011
- ^ a b "Name Lab: Galler", Family Education, accessed 30 September 2011
- ^ "Last name: Galler", Surname Database, accessed 30 September 2011
- ^ "Galler surname", House of Names, accessed 30 September 2011
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