NameCensus.

UK surname

Ballan

A surname locational in origin, referring to a person from Ballon in County Carlow, Ireland.

In the 1881 census there were 69 people recorded with the Ballan surname, ranking it #23,816 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 135, ranked #25,505, down from #23,816 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Whitworth, Leeds and Auckland St Andrew. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Lewes and Bury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ballan is 150 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 95.7%.

1881 census count

69

Ranked #23,816

Modern count

135

2016, ranked #25,505

Peak year

2011

150 bearers

Map years

5

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ballan had 69 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,816 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 135 in 2016, ranked #25,505.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 143 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Ballan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ballan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ballan 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 67 #21,440
1861 historical 115 #18,880
1881 historical 69 #23,816
1891 historical 143 #18,920
1901 historical 70 #26,383
1911 historical 90 #23,797
1997 modern 123 #23,792
1998 modern 129 #23,722
1999 modern 135 #23,279
2000 modern 134 #23,358
2001 modern 129 #23,557
2002 modern 123 #24,735
2003 modern 123 #24,497
2004 modern 125 #24,443
2005 modern 127 #24,178
2006 modern 123 #24,873
2007 modern 124 #25,086
2008 modern 127 #25,020
2009 modern 135 #24,594
2010 modern 146 #23,921
2011 modern 150 #23,309
2012 modern 135 #24,952
2013 modern 134 #25,525
2014 modern 132 #25,971
2015 modern 138 #25,103
2016 modern 135 #25,505

Geography

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Where Ballans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Whitworth, Leeds, Auckland St Andrew, Durham St Oswald and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Lewes, Bury and Trafford. 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 Whitworth Durham
2 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Auckland St Andrew Durham
4 Durham St Oswald Durham
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 058 County Durham
2 County Durham 057 County Durham
3 Lewes 004 Lewes
4 Bury 003 Bury
5 Trafford 019 Trafford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ballan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ballan

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ballan, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Ballan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Ballan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Ballan 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

Ballan is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ballan falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ballan 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Ballan

The surname Ballan is believed to have originated in France during the Middle Ages. It is thought to be derived from the Old French word "bailleu," which means "bailiff" or "steward." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who held positions of authority or oversaw the management of estates or properties.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ballan can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This document mentions individuals with the surname Ballan residing in various regions of Normandy, indicating that the name had already gained prominence in the area by the late 11th century.

Throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance period, the Ballan surname appeared in various historical records and documents across France. Notable individuals bearing this name include Jean Ballan, a renowned 16th-century painter and architect from Rouen (born around 1515 - died 1598), and Pierre Ballan, a influential French jurist who lived during the 17th century (born in 1620 - died 1692).

The name Ballan also has connections to certain place names in France. For instance, the village of Ballan-Miré in the Loire Valley is believed to have derived its name from a person with the surname Ballan who resided there during the medieval period.

Another notable figure with the Ballan surname was Jacques-Vincent Ballan, a French composer and organist who lived during the 18th century (born in 1730 - died 1799). His works contributed significantly to the development of sacred music in France during that era.

In the 19th century, the Ballan surname gained recognition through the achievements of Louis-François Ballan, a prominent French architect and urban planner (born in 1801 - died 1876). He was responsible for designing several notable buildings and public spaces in Paris and other cities across France.

Throughout history, the Ballan surname has been associated with individuals from various professions and backgrounds, including artists, scholars, politicians, and members of the nobility. While the name may have originated from a specific occupation or title, it has since gained a broader significance and has been carried by individuals from diverse walks of life.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ballan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ballan 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. Durham leads with 25 Ballans recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.48x.

County Total Index
Durham 25 12.48x
Yorkshire 25 3.75x
Lancashire 8 1.00x
Middlesex 8 1.19x
Cheshire 1 0.67x
Kent 1 0.44x
Monmouthshire 1 2.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 13 Ballans recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.52x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 13 34.52x
Dawdon 6 243.90x
Limehouse London 6 81.19x
Tudhoe 6 342.86x
West Derby 6 25.67x
Bradford 5 30.96x
Darlington 4 51.75x
Wath On Dearne 4 300.75x
Witton Le Wear 3 526.32x
Durham St Nicholas 2 408.16x
Elvet 2 137.93x
Bedale 1 416.67x
Bexley 1 49.26x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 7.88x
Ferryhill 1 142.86x
Hackney London 1 2.65x
Heaton 1 138.89x
Little Neston 1 416.67x
Manchester 1 2.78x
Middleham 1 526.32x
Monken Hadley 1 370.37x
Seaton With Slingley 1 2000.00x
St Woollos 1 18.42x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Jane 4
Elizabeth 3
Sarah 3
Ann 2
Florence 2
Alice 1
Ammie 1
Annie 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Jennie 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lamar 1
Livia 1
M.B.H. 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Thomasine 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Ballan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ballan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 69 people were recorded with the Ballan surname. That placed it at #23,816 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ballan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 135 in 2016. That gives Ballan a modern rank of #25,505.

What does the Ballan surname mean?

A surname locational in origin, referring to a person from Ballon in County Carlow, Ireland.

What does the Ballan map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ballan 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.