NameCensus.

UK surname

Balla

A surname derived from the Greek word meaning "to dance."

In the 1881 census there were 13 people recorded with the Balla surname, ranking it #31,761 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 233, ranked #17,625, up from #31,761 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Telford and Wrekin, Neath Port Talbot and Stoke-on-Trent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Balla is 233 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1692.3%.

1881 census count

13

Ranked #31,761

Modern count

233

2016, ranked #17,625

Peak year

2016

233 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Balla had 13 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,761 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 233 in 2016, ranked #17,625.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 35 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Balla surname distribution map

The map shows where the Balla surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Balla surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Balla over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 11 #31,309
1861 historical 35 #29,571
1881 historical 13 #31,761
1891 historical 16 #32,868
1901 historical 12 #32,772
1911 historical 11 #32,463
1997 modern 48 #32,878
1998 modern 57 #32,226
1999 modern 59 #32,174
2000 modern 63 #31,829
2001 modern 65 #31,501
2002 modern 73 #31,159
2003 modern 71 #31,393
2004 modern 83 #30,352
2005 modern 93 #29,133
2006 modern 111 #26,565
2007 modern 119 #25,747
2008 modern 120 #25,922
2009 modern 143 #23,686
2010 modern 160 #22,487
2011 modern 167 #21,642
2012 modern 202 #19,084
2013 modern 222 #18,198
2014 modern 226 #18,088
2015 modern 222 #18,225
2016 modern 233 #17,625

Geography

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Where Ballas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Telford and Wrekin, Neath Port Talbot, Stoke-on-Trent, Leeds and Gravesham. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Telford and Wrekin 005 Telford and Wrekin
2 Neath Port Talbot 009 Neath Port Talbot
3 Stoke-on-Trent 009 Stoke-on-Trent
4 Leeds 055 Leeds
5 Gravesham 002 Gravesham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Balla

These lists show first names that appear often with the Balla surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Balla

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Balla, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Balla surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Balla household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Balla is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Balla is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Balla falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Balla is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Balla, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Balla

The surname "Balla" has its origins in Italy, specifically in the regions of Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "balla," which means "bale" or "bundle," referring to the occupation of handling or transporting bales of goods, such as wool or cotton.

The name "Balla" can be traced back to the 13th century in Italian records and documents. One of the earliest mentions of the surname is found in a document from the city of Modena in 1289, which refers to a certain "Guglielmo Balla."

During the Middle Ages, the surname "Balla" was also found in various forms, such as "Balle," "Balli," and "Ballis." These variations were likely due to regional dialects and spelling conventions of the time. The name was associated with the trade and transportation of goods, as well as the production of textiles and other materials that were commonly bundled into bales.

In the 14th century, the surname "Balla" appeared in the historical records of the city of Bologna. One notable figure from this period was Giovanni Balla, a wealthy merchant who lived in the late 1300s and was involved in the trade of wool and silk.

As the centuries passed, the surname "Balla" spread across Italy and beyond. In the 16th century, there was a prominent family of artists and architects from Milan named Balla. The most renowned member was Camillo Balla (1530-1592), who designed several churches and palaces in Milan and its surrounding areas.

Another notable individual with the surname "Balla" was Antonio Balla (1718-1783), an Italian painter and etcher from the city of Treviso. He specialized in portraiture and religious subjects, and his works can be found in various churches and galleries throughout Italy.

In the 19th century, the surname "Balla" gained international recognition with the Italian Futurist artist Giacomo Balla (1871-1958). He was a pioneer of the Futurist movement and is best known for his works that depicted movement and dynamism, such as "Dynamism of a Dog on a Leash" and "Iridescent Interpenetration."

Throughout history, the surname "Balla" has been associated with various occupations, from merchants and traders to artists and craftsmen. While the name originated in Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world, reflecting the migration patterns and cultural exchanges that have shaped societies over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Balla families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Balla surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Angus leads with 8 Ballas recorded in 1881 and an index of 63.29x.

County Total Index
Angus 8 63.29x
Surrey 3 4.51x
Channel Islands 1 24.75x
Hampshire 1 3.58x
Middlesex 1 0.73x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kingoldrum in Angus leads with 5 Ballas recorded in 1881 and an index of 25000.00x.

Place Total Index
Kingoldrum 5 25000.00x
Newington 3 59.52x
Christchurch 1 163.93x
Inverarity 1 2500.00x
Monifieth 1 222.22x
Monikie 1 1428.57x
St Helier 1 75.76x
St Marylebone London 1 13.74x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Balla surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Eliza 2
Elise 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Balla surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
George 2
J. 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Balla households.

FAQ

Balla surname: questions and answers

How common was the Balla surname in 1881?

In 1881, 13 people were recorded with the Balla surname. That placed it at #31,761 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Balla surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 233 in 2016. That gives Balla a modern rank of #17,625.

What does the Balla surname mean?

A surname derived from the Greek word meaning "to dance."

What does the Balla map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Balla bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.