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Gallagher (surname)

Gallagher is an Irish surname. It originates from the Irish noble Gallagher family of County Donegal, Ireland, meaning “descendant of the foreign helper”. The name Gallagher is an anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Gallchobhair, Ó Gallchobhoir (or two alternative spelling forms, Ó Gallchóir and Ó Gallachóir), these being masculine forms; the corresponding feminine forms are Ní Ghallchobhair (newer forms Ní Ghallchóir and Ní Ghallachóir). At least 30 recorded alternate variants exist, including O'Gallagher, Gallacher, Gallager, Gallaher, Gallocher, Galliher, Gollaher, Gollihar and Gallahue.

The earliest recorded incidence of the name is in a fragment of a manuscript currently in the Royal Library of Brussels, which states the name "Gallchubhair". A similarly earlier mention occurs in the Annals of the Four Masters, where it is recorded that Mael Cobo Úi Gallchobhar, Abbot of Scrin Adamnain, died in 1022 AD. Gallchobhar was the one given the role of founding father of the clan at the advent of widespread surname usage in Ireland, which began around the 10th century.

As with other modern Irish last names, Ó Gallchóir similarly appears to be a conjoined compound word.

Most Gallaghers are found in the Americas, where approximately 60% of Gallaghers originate. The United States is the home to 55% of Gallaghers. Gallagher is also the most common surname in County Donegal (Dún na nGall means "fort of the foreigner"), and thus is very common in Derry, and is the fourteenth-most-common by birth records in Ireland. In the United States, it was ranked by the 2020 US Census as the 482nd most common name. According to Professor Edward MacLysaght, in the mid-20th century Gallagher was one of the most common Irish surnames, most of the recorded births being located in the northern province, Ulster, and the western province, Connacht, with the majority being recorded in the homeland of the sept—County Donegal in Ulster. In 1890 it was ranked the 12th-most-common surname in Ireland, while in 1996 it was 20th.

People with surname Gallagher

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  • Gerald Gallagher (1912–1941), medical doctor and British colonial administrator, of the Phoenix Islands Settlement Scheme
  • Gerry Gallagher (born 1951), American footballer
  • Gino Gallagher (c. 1963–1996), chief of staff of the militant revolutionary Irish National Liberation Army

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  • Leo Anthony Gallagher Jr., better known under his stage name Gallagher (1946–2022), American comedian
  • Leo Gallagher (1887–1963), American leftist lawyer and political candidate
  • Liam Gallagher (born 1972), lead singer of the British band Oasis and formerly of Beady Eye
  • Louis J. Gallagher (1885–1972), American Jesuit, educator, writer and translator

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  • Neil Gallagher, several people
  • Noel Gallagher (born 1967), lead guitarist and backup singer of Oasis and currently with Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
  • Norm Gallagher (1931–1999), Australian trade unionist

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Fictional characters

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