Galler
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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
Galler is one of the rarest German surnames, occurring mainly in Germany (90%), the United States Of America (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
Galler 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]
