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Anglicisation of the Irish Gaelic 'O Gallchobhair', meaning 'descendant of Gallchobhar', where 'Gallchobhar' is composed of 'gall' (foreigner, stranger) and 'cobhar' (desiring, loving) — giving the sense of 'eager foreigner' or 'lover of foreigners'. The O'Gallaghers were a major sept of the Cenel Conaill in County Donegal, hereditary marshals of the armies of the O'Donnells, the ruling dynasty of Tyrconnell. Gallagher remains one of the most distinctively Donegal surnames and is the most common surname in that county today.