Gall
A surname that began as an old personal name, probably linked to early saints named Gall.
The #3,681 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 31,968 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The surname Gall was used as an old personal name before it became hereditary. Historical surname writers connect it with early saints called Gall, including a Scottish abbot, and with the Latinized form Gallus. In Irish and related Celtic usage, the name was also associated with a saintly figure known as Col or Gall, which helped keep the name in circulation.
History
English and Irish surname dictionaries treat Gall as an ancient personal name rather than a descriptive word in surname use. Bardsley and Lower both note the saintly connection, especially the tradition of St. Gall, whose name remained famous through the monastery at St. Gall near Lake Constance. The surname appears in medieval records in forms such as Peter Galle.
Origin
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Fun fact
The famous abbey and town of St. Gallen in Switzerland are named for St. Gall, which helped preserve the name across Europe.
From the historical record
“GALER, Perhaps the same as Gaylord. GALL. An ancient personal name. Two saints Galle occur in the Roman Calendar, one of whom Avas a Scotch abbot. GALLAND. The name of a locality im- known to me, whence belike Gallon. GALLANT. R.G. 16. Brave in war. Galaunt, H.R. GALLARD. See Gaylord. ILR. Gallard. GALLAWAY. See…”
— Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom