Surname LE GALLOU - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'L'
LE GALLOU: What does the surname LE GALLOU mean?
The last name Le Gallou is of French origin, derived from the Old French word Gallou, meaning 'Gaul'. This references the people of Ancient Gaul, a region of Western Europe that was made up of present-day France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and parts of Northern Italy and Germany. It was inhabited by a number of Celtic tribes known as the Gauls.
The Le Gallou surname was likely assigned to families who had lived in Gaul for an extended period of time, or originated in Gaul but later settled elsewhere. Over time, many variations of the surname have developed, such as Le Gallou, Le Galloux, Galloux, and Gallou.
By the 18th century, the Le Gallou family had become prosperous landlords of Coëtmen, a village in Brittany. Later, members of this family moved to other parts of France where they became active in trade, politics, and other endeavors.
Today, Le Gallou remains an uncommon but widely distributed surname. Contemporary members of the family live in the French regions of Brittany, Normandy, and Ile-de-France. It is also found in communities of French descent in North America, primarily in Canada.
Order DNA origin analysisLE GALLOU: Where does the name LE GALLOU come from?
The last name LE GALLOU is a French-sounding surname, suggesting it may be of French origin. It is unclear when and where the name was first established, though it is known to have been found in France in the 1800s.
Today, LE GALLOU is most common throughout France. It is common among the broader French population, but can also be found in the northern and western regions of France, particularly in Brittany and Normandy. Outside of France, one can find the LE GALLOU surname in Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Canada, and the United States.
In the United States, the LE GALLOU surname is not nearly as common as it is in France. It tends to be concentrated in larger cities along the east coast, though it can be found throughout the country in smaller numbers.
Many people may have the last name LE GALLOU but have not retained its original French pronunciation. Over time, the name has been anglicized and has come to be pronounced as either “la-gal-o” or “ley-gal-o”.
No matter where or how it is pronounced, the LE GALLOU name carries two centuries of French history with it.
Variations of the surname LE GALLOU
The surname LE GALLOU is derived from either of two French places - La Gaille or Gallou. Its variants include Le Gallou, Gallou, Gaille, Galle, Galla, Gaillou, Galloux, Le Galla, and Le Galloux.
Le Gallou is essentially the French spelling of the surname, while Gallou and Gaille are regional variants of the name. Other variants include Galla, which is the Italian spelling of the surname, and Gaillou, which is its Occitan form. Galloux and Le Galla are derived from the place name La Gaille, while Le Galloux is derived from the surname Gallou.
This surname is of toponymic origin, which means it is derived from the name of a place. Both La Gaille and Gallou were once small villages located in the Poitou-Charentes region of western France.
By extension, the name LE GALLOU is sometimes extended to include other surnames which have similar origins. For example, long-term use of the suffix ‘-ou’, such as in Gallerou, Gallouet, and Gallore may mean that they share a common origin with LE GALLOU.
In addition, surnames with the prefix ‘La’ such as La Garouge, La Gille, and La Mailloure are often assumed to be variations of LE GALLOU. Similarly, surnames with the prefix ‘Le’ such as Le Marchand and Le Matoux may also have similar origins.
Famous people with the name LE GALLOU
- Pierre Le Gallou: a French entrepreneur, best known for his services to the pharmaceutical industry. He was the founder and President of Servier, the largest independent pharmaceutical company in France.
- Jean-Luc Le Gallou: French politician of the center-right Union pour un Mouvement Populaire (UMP). He was elected to the French National Assembly representing the 3rd constituency of the Gironde department.
- Gérard Le Gallou: a French actor, who worked from 1967 until 1996. He is known for his appearances in films such as The Devil and the Ten Commandments (1970) and Jaguar Lives! (1979).
- Henry Le Gallou: a French politician who was Mayor of Bayonne from 1989 to 2001.
- Patrice Le Gallou: a French composer who wrote and produced scores for films including The Apostle (1997) and The Secret Garden (1993).
- Sarah Le Gallou: a French actress, best known for her work in Who Was Max Lucifer? (1989).
- Marc Le Gallou: a French judge, legal scholar and professor of Law at the University of Nantes. He is widely known for his expertise in the fields of administrative law and public law.
- Éliane Le Gallou: a French author, journalist and columnist for Catholicism magazine. She is the author of several books, including The Spirit of Chivalry (2005).