The surnameGalbraith is derived from theGaelic elementsgall, meaning "stranger", andBreathnach, meaning "Briton".[1] As such, the surname can be taken to mean "British foreigner",[2] "British Scandinavian",[3] "foreign Briton",[4] or "stranger-Briton".[5] The surnameGalbraith can be rendered inScottish Gaelic asMac a' Bhreatannaich.[6]
The surname is borne by members ofClan Galbraith.[7] The clan is known in Gaelic asClann a' Bhreatannaich.[4] The earliest recorded chief of this family may be "Gillcrist Bretnach", a man attested in 1193.[8] This man's name could indicate that he was either ofWelsh[9] or North British ancestry.[10]
Early examples of forms of the surname include: "Gillescop Galbrad" in 1208×1214;[11] "Gillescop Galbrath" in 1208×1214;[12] "Gillescop Gallebrad" in 1208×1214;[13] "Wilielmo filio Arthuri filii Galbrait" in 1239;[14] "Gillaspec Galbraith" in 1208×1241;[15] and "Mauritio filio Gillaspic Galbraith" in 1208×1265.[16]
^Gunn, Alastair G. (2023). "Biography and Bibliography".The Blue Room and Other Tales: The Ghost Stories of Lettice Galbraith. Wimbourne Books.ISBN9781838268992.
Reaney, PH (1995). Wilson, RM (ed.).A Dictionary of English Surnames (3rd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.ISBN0-19-8631464.
Surname list
This page lists people with thesurnameGalbraith. If aninternal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change thatlink by adding the person'sgiven name(s) to the link.
