UK surname
A locational surname originating from a place name derived from the Old English word "ball" meaning a rounded hill or ridge.
In the 1881 census there were 14 people recorded with the Balling surname, ranking it #31,604 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 26, ranked #36,254, down from #31,604 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, Kings Norton and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Balling is 140 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 85.7%.
1881 census count
14
Ranked #31,604
Modern count
26
2016, ranked #36,254
Peak year
1861
140 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Balling surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Balling surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 23 | #29,205 |
| 1861 | historical | 140 | #16,169 |
| 1881 | historical | 14 | #31,604 |
| 1891 | historical | 34 | #31,604 |
| 1901 | historical | 29 | #30,848 |
| 1911 | historical | 18 | #31,542 |
| 1997 | modern | 24 | #35,376 |
| 1998 | modern | 25 | #35,365 |
| 1999 | modern | 21 | #35,810 |
| 2000 | modern | 26 | #35,295 |
| 2001 | modern | 28 | #34,936 |
| 2002 | modern | 26 | #35,338 |
| 2003 | modern | 26 | #35,371 |
| 2004 | modern | 28 | #35,354 |
| 2005 | modern | 25 | #35,752 |
| 2006 | modern | 28 | #35,665 |
| 2007 | modern | 30 | #35,661 |
| 2008 | modern | 30 | #35,736 |
| 2009 | modern | 30 | #35,871 |
| 2010 | modern | 32 | #35,848 |
| 2011 | modern | 31 | #35,892 |
| 2012 | modern | 27 | #36,102 |
| 2013 | modern | 24 | #36,344 |
| 2014 | modern | 27 | #36,180 |
| 2015 | modern | 27 | #36,173 |
| 2016 | modern | 26 | #36,254 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, Kings Norton, St Pancras, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a and St Dunstan Stepney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | Kings Norton | Worcestershire |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a | Essex |
| 5 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Balling surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Balling, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Balling surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Balling household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Balling is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Balling is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Balling, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Balling originated in Germany during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German word "ballen," which means "to gather" or "to bundle." This suggests that the name may have been an occupational surname given to someone who worked as a gatherer or bundler of goods, such as hay or crops.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Balling surname can be found in the 14th-century records of the town of Nuremberg. A certain Hainrich Balling is mentioned as a merchant and landowner in this region during the year 1372. The name also appears in various other German records from the 15th and 16th centuries, indicating its widespread use across various parts of the country.
In the 16th century, the Balling surname is mentioned in the chronicles of the city of Cologne, where a family by that name held prominent positions in the local government. One notable member was Hans Balling, who served as a city councilor in the year 1545.
The Balling surname can also be traced back to the region of Saxony in eastern Germany. In the 17th century, a family by the name of Balling owned a large estate in the village of Bockendorf, near the city of Leipzig. This estate remained in the possession of the Balling family for several generations.
As the Balling family spread across different parts of Germany, the spelling of the name underwent some variations. In some regions, it was spelled as "Ballung" or "Ballinge," while in others it was written as "Ballinger" or "Ballinger."
Among notable historical figures with the Balling surname, one can mention Johann Balling (1638-1722), a German theologian and author who served as a pastor in the city of Nuremberg. Another prominent individual was Friedrich Balling (1801-1875), a German chemist and inventor who developed the first practical method for measuring the density of liquids, known as the Balling scale.
Other individuals of note include the German artist Hermann Balling (1863-1925), known for his landscape paintings and etchings, and the Austrian writer and playwright Hugo Balling (1879-1959), whose works were popular in the early 20th century.
Overall, the Balling surname has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval Germany, where it originated as an occupational name for those involved in the gathering and bundling of goods. Over the centuries, it has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, landowners, theologians, scientists, artists, and writers.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Balling surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 10 Ballings recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.89x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shoreditch London in Middlesex leads with 10 Ballings recorded in 1881 and an index of 181.82x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Shoreditch London | 10 | 181.82x |
| Copford | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Newbury | 1 | 333.33x |
| Rotherhithe | 1 | 63.69x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Balling surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Balling surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Balling households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| (Work Box Maker) | 1 |
| Drapers Assistant | 1 |
| Grocer & Draper | 1 |
| Innkeeper | 1 |
| Work Box Maker (Wood) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 14 people were recorded with the Balling surname. That placed it at #31,604 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 26 in 2016. That gives Balling a modern rank of #36,254.
A locational surname originating from a place name derived from the Old English word "ball" meaning a rounded hill or ridge.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Balling bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.