Surname Galea - Meaning and Origin
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Galea: What does the surname Galea mean?
The surname Galea is of Spanish-Mediterranean origin and is predominantly found in Malta, Spain, Sicily, and Sardinia. It is derived from the Latin word "galea" which means helmet and was likely first used as an occupational surname to denote someone who made helmets for a living. This derivation has been supported by historical records, which indicate that many bearers of the Galea surname were armorers and blacksmiths who worked in the armory.
The earliest record of the surname dates back to Malta in 1189; it was first listed as a family name in Malta in 1240. Throughout the centuries, the surname Galea has spread to other countries and regions: in the 15th century, it was used as a Christian name in Sardinia, and it was also used as a surname in Sicily and the south of Italy. The surname is currently quite popular in Malta, where it has become one of the country's most well-known family names.
Aside from its immediate origin in Malta, the surname Galea is of wider Spanish Mediterranean background and can be found in other countries, such as Spain, Sicily, and Sardinia. The surname is often used as a first name in many of these countries and takes on different forms depending on regional speech and usage. Ultimately, however, the surname Galea is derived from the Latin word for helmet and is particularly associated with armorers and blacksmiths in Malta who worked in the armory.
Order DNA origin analysisGalea: Where does the name Galea come from?
The last name Galea is most commonly found in Malta and other countries where there are people of Maltese descent. It is one of the most popular surnames in Malta with more than 1,000 families bearing the surname. It is also listed in the top 40 most common surnames on the island.
Outside of Malta, the surname is not as common. In the United States, Galea is the 15,011th most common last name, with around 895 people bearing the name. The surname is also found throughout in other countries in Europe, including France, Germany, and Italy, where the number of people with this surname is much smaller.
The origin of the name is not known for certain, but some believe it stemmed from its ancestral origins in Italy, where the name means "galley" (a type of boat). Others believe that it came from a Syriac name "Gallayus", meaning "happy" or "joyful".
In addition to its European roots, the name is also used among people of Middle Eastern and North African descent. It is widely used in Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco, among other nations. It is also popular among the Maltese diaspora in countries such as Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, and is even found in countries such as Angola, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
Variations of the surname Galea
The surname Galea is of Italian and Spanish origin. It is derived from the Latin word galea, meaning "helmet" or "helmeted head," and was likely given to someone whose head was likened to a helmet. There are a few variations of the surname, including Galia, Gali, Galie, Galy and Galey.
In Italy, the surname is most common in the region of Sicily, although it can also be found in Campania and Calabria. In Spain, Galea is most common in the Galicia and Asturias regions.
Variants of the surname include Gali, Galie, Galy and Galey, which are common in both Italy and Spain, as well as Gálea in Portugal. In Romania, the variant spelling is Gălea, while other countries still using the name—such as Poland, Czech Republic and Bulgaria—will use the spelling Galia, and Germany and Austria spelling it as Galie.
In the Czech Republic, the variant spelling is Galia, while in Poland and Bulgaria, the name is spelled simply as Galia. In Germany and Austria, the variant spelling is Galie, while in Romania the variant is Gălea, and in Portugal the spelling is Gálea.
When the surname is taken abroad, it often appears in the form of Gallea (Anglicised).
Famous people with the name Galea
- Pawel Galea: a Polish footballer and manager
- Dennis Galea: a Maltese singer and songwriter
- Sonja Galea: a Maltese actress and singer
- Nenad Galea: a Bosnian footballer
- Vladimir Galea: a Montenegrin footballer
- Rico Galea: a Maltese television presenter
- Charlotte Galea: an Australian actress
- Anton Galea: a Maltese artist and sculptor
- Edward Galea: a Maltese science fiction writer
- Dante Galea: a Maltese museum curator