Gallagher Coat of Arms & Family Crest
Where the Gallagher name began, what it means, and where it was first recorded.
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Origin of the Gallagher name
Gallagher comes from Ó Gallchobhair, "descendant of Gallchobhar", a personal name made of gall, "foreigner", and cabhair, "help". The family was based in County Donegal, where they served as marshals of the O'Donnell forces, and the name is still the most common in that county. It is widespread in Ulster, Scotland and the United States.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Gallagher name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Gallagher name in Ireland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Scotland and England; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Your full Gallagher pack adds the researched history, early records and migration. Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Gallagher coat of arms for you.
Gallagher name FAQ
What does the Gallagher name mean?
Descendant of Gallchobhar ("foreign help"). Common variants include Gallacher, Gallaher, O'Gallagher.
Where does the Gallagher surname come from?
It originates in Ireland, and is also found in the United States, Scotland and England.
Is there a Gallagher coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Gallagher crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Gallagher coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.