Gallagher - Irish Surname Origin & Meaning
Irish form: Ó Gallchobhair
Meaning: “lover of foreigners / foreign help”
Traditional stronghold: Donegal
Pronunciation: GAL-uh-her; Irish O Gallchobhair: oh GOL-khoor
History of the Gallagher name
Gallagher is one of the most numerous surnames in Donegal, where the O'Gallaghers served as marshals of cavalry to the O'Donnell chiefs of Tyrconnell and held substantial church lands as an erenagh family. The meaning of the underlying name is debated, though it is often linked to elements suggesting 'foreign help' or 'lover of foreigners'. Their close alliance with the O'Donnells meant the family's fortunes rose and fell with that dynasty, and their descendants remained concentrated in Donegal even after the Flight of the Earls broke Gaelic Ulster's old order. Gallagher is today among the most common surnames in Ireland as a whole.
Variants: Gallaher · Gallocher · Gollogly
Famous bearers of the name
- Liam Gallagher - English-born musician of Irish descent, Oasis frontman
- Noel Gallagher - English-born musician of Irish descent, Oasis songwriter
- Rory Gallagher - Cork-born blues-rock guitarist
Related names from the same part of Ireland: Boyle · Doherty · Sweeney · O'Donnell · Duffy · McLoughlin · Mooney · Ward