Surname Galla - Meaning and Origin
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Galla: What does the surname Galla mean?
The surname Galla has multi-ethnic roots including Italian, German, and Eastern European origins. In Italian, Galla is derived from the medieval personal name "Gallo", which means rooster. It was often used as a nickname for a proud or arrogant person, sometimes indicative of someone with a loud voice. In the German context, the surname could relate to someone from a place called Galle. The Eastern European origins often link to a historic term referring to a group of people known as the Oromo, who inhabit Ethiopia, Northern Kenya, and parts of Somalia. Thus, the surname Galla could potentially imply a diverse range of ethnic or geographical roots or personal characteristics. As with many surnames, individual family histories can significantly vary and offer an array of interpretations.
Order DNA origin analysisGalla: Where does the name Galla come from?
The surname Galla is of Italian origin, believed to have derived from the medieval name "Gallo", which means rooster in Italian. It is a patronymic or ancestral name that often points to the profession or characteristics of the original bearer. This last name could have possibly indicated a person who either worked as a poultry dealer or had a person's temperament likened to a rooster.
The distribution of this surname in the present day is fairly widespread, particularly within various regions of Italy. Besides Italy, the surname Galla has scatterings throughout countries like the United States, Germany, Poland, and more due to historic migrations. In the United States, it is common in states like Pennsylvania, New York, and Illinois. Of note, surname records don't necessarily imply ethnic or national dominance in a given region, rather they hint at where families with that surname may have settled and multiplied. There may be other countries where Galla families live that aren't extensively represented in such data.
Variations of the surname Galla
The surname Galla has its origins in different European cultures, implying that it can have multiple forms and variants depending on the region.
One of the main geographic origins of the name is Italy, where it's found in many regions including Lombardy, Veneto, Tuscany, and Marche. The name could have variant spellings such as Galli, Galle, Gallia, Gallini, or Gallino in Italian surnames, all deriving from the original form Galla.
In Spanish, the surname could be spelled as Gala or Gallo, a name common among Spanish and Portuguese-speaking communities.
For German speakers, the name could be traced back to Galle or Gall, and in French communities, it could be spelled as Gallais, Gallat, Gallerand, Gallet, Gallois, or Gallon.
A Hungarian version of the surname might be Gallai, while in Slovak areas, it may be spelled Gallay.
The surname can also have some variants such as Gallaway, Gallawy, Galloway, or Gallwey in Scottish and Irish regions, which may indicate similar origins.
Please note, the origins and connections between these names can't be guaranteed in all cases as surnames can develop independently in different regions, and are influenced by local languages and dialects.
Famous people with the name Galla
- Sofia Galla-Rini: an American professional golfer.
- Ludwig Galla: a World War I veteran was the first recipient of the Silver Star Medal.
- Johnny Galla: an American actor who starred in various films, including The Last Samurai and The Boondock Saints.
- John Galla: an American singer who led the band "Johnny and the Rockets".
- Riccardo Galla: an Italian farmer who built the first buffalo mozzarella cheese plant in the USA.
- Wolfgang Galla: a German sculptor and designer who created modern furniture pieces.
- Michal Galla: an American artist who is known for her multi media sculptures.
- Jessica Galla: an American actor who is best known for her role on The Big Bang Theory.
- Marian Galla: an American photographer who has documented some of the most iconic natural landscapes in the world.
- Christian Galla: a German-born American businessman and philanthropist.