NameCensus.

UK surname

Balls

A surname derived from the Old English "bæll," meaning "ball" or "roundness."

In the 1881 census there were 3,837 people recorded with the Balls surname, ranking it #1,189 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,001, ranked #5,799, down from #1,189 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Norfolk, Suffolk Coastal and Waveney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Balls is 4,364 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 73.9%.

1881 census count

3,837

Ranked #1,189

Modern count

1,001

2016, ranked #5,799

Peak year

1911

4,364 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Balls had 3,837 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,189 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,001 in 2016, ranked #5,799.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,364 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Balls surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Balls surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Balls 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 3,059 #947
1861 historical 2,968 #971
1881 historical 3,837 #1,189
1891 historical 3,765 #1,272
1901 historical 4,194 #1,343
1911 historical 4,364 #1,183
1997 modern 1,224 #4,637
1998 modern 1,232 #4,776
1999 modern 1,224 #4,835
2000 modern 1,200 #4,904
2001 modern 1,179 #4,879
2002 modern 1,162 #5,049
2003 modern 1,124 #5,083
2004 modern 1,093 #5,215
2005 modern 1,067 #5,270
2006 modern 1,046 #5,367
2007 modern 1,054 #5,369
2008 modern 1,040 #5,466
2009 modern 1,040 #5,597
2010 modern 1,039 #5,697
2011 modern 1,026 #5,704
2012 modern 1,023 #5,637
2013 modern 1,031 #5,694
2014 modern 1,034 #5,702
2015 modern 1,012 #5,757
2016 modern 1,001 #5,799

Geography

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Where Balls' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Norfolk, Suffolk Coastal, Waveney and Great Yarmouth. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk
4 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Norfolk 003 North Norfolk
2 Suffolk Coastal 004 Suffolk Coastal
3 Waveney 010 Waveney
4 Waveney 011 Waveney
5 Great Yarmouth 006 Great Yarmouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Balls

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Balls

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Balls surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Balls household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Balls is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Balls is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Balls falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Balls is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Balls

The surname Balls has its origins in the North West of England, particularly in the counties of Lancashire and Cheshire, dating back to the late 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "ball," which referred to a rounded hill or a protuberance in the landscape.

The name was likely initially used as a locational surname, indicating that the bearer lived near or on a rounded hill. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Lancashire Inquests of 1310, where a certain William del Balle is mentioned.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as Balle, Bal, and Bahl, reflecting the regional dialects and the fluidity of spelling conventions at the time. The Balls surname is also found in the Cheshire County Rolls of 1384, where a John Balle is listed as a landowner in the village of Wilmslow.

During the Middle Ages, the name was associated with several notable individuals. John Balls, a Catholic priest and martyr, was executed in 1592 for his religious beliefs during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent figure was Nathaniel Balls, a wealthy merchant and Member of Parliament for Brackley in the late 17th century.

In the 18th century, the Balls family established themselves in the county of Worcestershire, where they owned substantial land holdings. One of the most famous members of this branch was Richard Balls, born in 1760, who served as a Captain in the Royal Navy and was present at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

The 19th century saw the Balls surname spread across various parts of the British Isles and beyond. George Balls, born in 1819 in Somerset, was a renowned architect responsible for the design of several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Academy of Arts.

Another notable figure was Mary Balls, born in 1837 in Derbyshire, who was a pioneering educator and a staunch advocate for women's rights. She founded several schools and played a pivotal role in the establishment of the National Union of Women Teachers.

The Balls surname has continued to be represented in various fields throughout history, with individuals making significant contributions in areas such as politics, literature, and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Balls families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Balls 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. Norfolk leads with 878 Balls' recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.25x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 878 15.25x
Suffolk 832 18.24x
Middlesex 560 1.50x
Essex 495 6.70x
Surrey 222 1.22x
Cambridgeshire 107 4.51x
Bedfordshire 85 4.38x
Durham 84 0.75x
Kent 83 0.65x
Yorkshire 80 0.22x
Hertfordshire 60 2.33x
Lincolnshire 54 0.90x
Lancashire 52 0.12x
Northumberland 38 0.68x
Hampshire 31 0.40x
Buckinghamshire 28 1.24x
Sussex 21 0.33x
Warwickshire 19 0.20x
Huntingdonshire 12 1.61x
Devon 11 0.14x
Channel Islands 10 0.90x
Lanarkshire 9 0.07x
Cheshire 7 0.08x
Dorset 7 0.28x
Leicestershire 7 0.17x
Glamorgan 6 0.09x
Kincardineshire 6 1.32x
Derbyshire 5 0.09x
Oxfordshire 5 0.22x
Berkshire 3 0.11x
Gloucestershire 3 0.04x
Herefordshire 3 0.20x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.06x
Cornwall 2 0.05x
Somerset 2 0.03x
Staffordshire 2 0.02x
Wiltshire 2 0.06x
Angus 1 0.03x
Fife 1 0.05x
Radnorshire 1 0.33x
Royal Navy 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Yarmouth in Norfolk leads with 125 Balls' recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.21x.

Place Total Index
Great Yarmouth 125 26.21x
Lowestoft 119 55.24x
Hackney London 60 2.86x
Beccles 58 79.03x
Kensington London 54 2.59x
Heigham 49 15.86x
Mile End Old Town London 48 6.02x
Bury St Edmunds St James 37 30.38x
Paddington London 36 2.62x
Islington London 35 0.96x
St Pancras London 35 1.16x
West Ham 34 2.08x
Camberwell 33 1.38x
Cromer 32 156.33x
Lambeth 29 0.89x
Battersea 28 2.03x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 28 16.20x
Colchester St James 27 90.15x
Wormingford 27 441.90x
Bermondsey 25 2.24x
Shoreditch London 25 1.54x
West Bergholt 25 181.16x
Norwich St Clement 24 35.97x
Westoe 24 3.80x
Hempton 23 315.93x
Bow London 22 4.62x
Willisham 22 862.75x
Halesworth 21 64.96x
Pakenham 21 170.87x
Bethnal Green London 20 1.23x
Lidgate 20 374.53x
Streatham 20 7.20x
Kirby Cane 19 353.16x
Colchester St Peter 18 60.87x
Lakenham 18 22.01x
Maldon St Peter 18 47.81x
Norwich St George Colegate 18 85.96x
Laxfield 17 149.78x
Shefford 17 123.28x
Watton 17 94.03x
Aldeburgh 16 59.28x
Bradwell 16 50.22x
Chelmsford 16 12.62x
Copford 16 188.24x
Freckenham 16 336.84x
Fulham London 16 2.95x
Westleton 16 149.53x
Birmingham 15 0.48x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 15 17.53x
Lewisham 15 2.20x
Sutton At Hone 15 56.60x
Tynemouth 15 5.03x
Colchester St Botolph 14 22.27x
Cratfield 14 220.13x
Finchley 14 9.75x
Ipswich St Mathew 14 10.95x
Luton 14 4.17x
Norwich St James 14 31.00x
Norwich St Paul 14 40.63x
Norwich St Saviour 14 69.31x
St Luke London 14 2.33x
St Marylebone London 14 0.70x
Weston Colville 14 208.02x
Barton In Clay 13 95.52x
Bradwell 13 182.33x
Bromley London 13 1.58x
Colchester St Giles 13 17.80x
Croydon 13 1.28x
Dersingham 13 100.00x
Kirkley 13 34.08x
Little Baddow 13 186.25x
Little Horkesley 13 509.80x
Saxby In Glanford Brigg 13 309.52x
St George Hanover Square 13 1.97x
Tottenham 13 2.18x
Wormegay 13 214.52x
Bromley 12 6.16x
Finchingfield 12 51.81x
Knodishall 12 209.06x
Southampton St Mary 12 2.49x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 209
Elizabeth 130
Sarah 122
Eliza 79
Emma 67
Alice 66
Ellen 61
Emily 51
Ann 48
Jane 48
Annie 46
Maria 41
Charlotte 40
Hannah 40
Edith 34
Louisa 34
Martha 31
Caroline 30
Harriet 29
Florence 28
Harriett 28
Fanny 22
Anna 21
Lucy 21
Agnes 20
Ada 18
Kate 18
Susan 17
Laura 15
Susannah 15
Clara 14
Rebecca 14
Amelia 13
Margaret 13
Ethel 12
Frances 12
Matilda 12
Anne 11
Lydia 11
Maryann 11
Rosa 11
Sophia 11
Eleanor 10
Elizth. 10
Ruth 9
Gertrude 8
Jessie 8
Rachel 8
Catherine 7
Rose 7

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 242
John 181
James 146
George 129
Charles 92
Thomas 87
Henry 84
Robert 73
Arthur 61
Alfred 50
Frederick 46
Samuel 43
Harry 42
Joseph 39
Edward 35
Walter 34
Ernest 27
Herbert 26
Albert 24
Richard 21
Frank 17
Benjamin 16
Stephen 16
Edmund 12
Francis 10
Thos. 9
Daniel 8
Edgar 8
Fredrick 8
Wm. 8
David 7
Frederic 7
Edwin 6
Jas. 6
Ambrose 5
Fredk. 5
Geo. 5
Jesse 5
Mark 5
Philip 5
Chas. 4
Fred 4
Horace 4
Isaac 4
Jonathan 4
Matthew 4
Percy 4
Peter 4
Aldous 3
Joshua 3

FAQ

Balls surname: questions and answers

How common was the Balls surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,837 people were recorded with the Balls surname. That placed it at #1,189 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Balls surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,001 in 2016. That gives Balls a modern rank of #5,799.

What does the Balls surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English "bæll," meaning "ball" or "roundness."

What does the Balls map show?

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