Skip to main content

Updated June 9, 2019

Family name origins & meanings

  • Spanish (Gálvez) : patronymic from the medieval personal name Galve (Arabic Ghālib ‘triumphant’), which was borne by various Moorish chieftains in Spanish history and legend, notably the father-in-law of Al-Mansūr, the 10th-century vizier of Córdoba.
  • General Bernardo de Gálvez was Spanish governor of LA in 1777, and fought against the British in the American Revolution. The city of Galveston, TX, is named for him.

Subscribe to Family Education

Your partner in parenting from baby name inspiration to college planning.

Subscribe