Gale

Gale
This interesting and ancient English surname is recorded in several forms including Gale, Gail, Geil, Geill, Gayle, Gails and no doubt others as well. It has at least three possible sources of origin. The first is from an early medieval English nickname for a cheerful, pleasant or roisterous person. This is derived from the Olde English "gal", meaning jovial, rowdy or merry. The second source is from a personal name, introduced into England by the Normans after the Conquest of 1066 as "Geil", and having the same meaning as the English "gal", Robert le Geil being recorded in Worcester in the year 1186. The third possible source is from the Old Norman-French "gaiole", meaning a jail, and thus a metonymic occupational surname for a jailer, or possibly a topographical name for someone who lived near the local jail. Job-descriptive surnames originally denoted the actual occupation of the namebearer, and later became hereditary. The surname was first recorded in the late 12th Century, and Juliana le Gale was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Cambridgeshire, dated 1327. Amongst the many interesting recordings is that of John Gale, who was recorded as "living in Virginea", on February 16th 1623. He was one of the very earliest settlers in the New England Colonies, of the future United States of America. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert le Geil, which was dated 1186, in the "Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire", during the reign of King Henry 11, known as "The Builder of Churches", 1154 - 1189. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • GALE — Parasitose humaine, la gale est due à un acarien: Sarcoptes scabiei . La femelle creuse un sillon dans la couche cornée de l’épiderme de la peau de son hôte. Elle y est fécondée puis pond ses œufs dans une logette située à l’extrémité de ce… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Gale — ist der Name folgender Orte: Galepsos (Chalkidike), antiker Ort auf der Halbinsel Chalkidike, Griechenland in den Vereinigten Staaten: Gale (Idaho) Gale (Illinois) Gale (Indiana) Gale (Kalifornien) Gale (New York) Gale (Pennsylvania) Gale (West… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • gale — GALE. s. f. Especes de pustulles qui viennent sur la peau, & qui sont ordinairement accompagnées de demangeaison. Grosse gale. gale seche. gale de chien. vieille gale. donner la gale à quelqu un. prendre, gagner la gale …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Gale — (g[=a]l), n. [Prob. of Scand. origin; cf. Dan. gal furious, Icel. galinn, cf. Icel. gala to sing, AS. galan to sing, Icel. galdr song, witchcraft, AS. galdor charm, sorcery, E. nightingale; also, Icel. gj[=o]la gust of wind, gola breeze. Cf.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Gale's — is a UK brand of Honey and Lemon curd, marketed by Premier Foods. History The brand was first produced in 1919 in London. Advertising A jingle used to advertise the honey was: Gales, Gales pass the honey please, think about the honey, think about …   Wikipedia

  • galė — galė̃ sf. (4) [K] galia, jėga: Dirbk, kiek išneša galė rš. Nebuvo nei galės, nei valės S.Dauk. Lapės kalba teip patiko varnai, jog ji, išplėtusi kakarinę, sukrankė iš visos galės (ps.) Blv. Jis turi didelę gãlę Žlb. Galė̃s nėra šulinį įsitaisyti …   Dictionary of the Lithuanian Language

  • Gale — Gale, v. i. [AS. galan. See 1st {Gale}.] To sing. [Obs.] Can he cry and gale. Court of Love. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Gale — Gale, n. [AS. gagel, akin to D. gagel.] (Bot.) A plant of the genus {Myrica}, growing in wet places, and strongly resembling the bayberry. The sweet gale ({Myrica Gale}) is found both in Europe and in America. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • gale — [geıl] n [Date: 1500 1600; Origin: Perhaps from Norwegian galen bad ] 1.) a very strong wind ▪ a severe gale. it s blowing a gale BrE (=it s very windy) 2.) a gale/gales of laughter a sudden loud sound of laughter …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Gale — Gale, n. [OE. gal. See {Gale} wind.] A song or story. [Obs.] Toone. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Gale — Gale, n. [Cf. {Gabel}.] The payment of a rent or annuity. [Eng.] Mozley & W. [1913 Webster] {Gale day}, the day on which rent or interest is due. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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