NameCensus.

UK surname

Balog

A Hungarian occupational surname referring to a hewer of wood or a woodcutter.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Derby, Medway and Govanhill West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Balog is 436 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

436

2016, ranked #11,062

Peak year

2016

436 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 436 in 2016, ranked #11,062.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Balog surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Balog surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Balog 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
1861 historical 4 #33,628
1891 historical 2 #34,436
1997 modern 12 #36,785
1998 modern 11 #36,908
1999 modern 10 #37,072
2000 modern 13 #36,635
2001 modern 11 #36,727
2002 modern 17 #36,164
2003 modern 18 #36,115
2004 modern 29 #35,270
2005 modern 46 #34,081
2006 modern 83 #30,808
2007 modern 109 #27,253
2008 modern 162 #21,350
2009 modern 219 #17,960
2010 modern 276 #15,637
2011 modern 257 #16,335
2012 modern 334 #13,443
2013 modern 386 #12,243
2014 modern 404 #11,906
2015 modern 422 #11,409
2016 modern 436 #11,062

Geography

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Where Balogs 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 Derby, Medway and Govanhill West. 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 Derby 018 Derby
2 Derby 020 Derby
3 Medway 020 Medway
4 Govanhill West Glasgow City
5 Medway 015 Medway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Balog

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Balog

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

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Balog is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Balog 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

Balog 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 Balog is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

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

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Balog

The surname BALOG is of Hungarian origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a nickname derived from the Slavic word "blag," meaning "good" or "gentle." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a person with a kind or amiable nature.

In its earliest recorded instances, the name appeared in various forms, such as Balogh, Balogh, and Balógh, reflecting regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. These alternate spellings were common in historical records, as standardization of surnames was not widespread until more recent times.

One of the earliest known mentions of the BALOG surname can be found in a 14th-century manuscript from the town of Pécsvárad, in present-day Hungary. This document records a landowner named Petrus Balogh, indicating that the name was already in use among the nobility at that time.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the BALOG name gained prominence in various parts of the Kingdom of Hungary, which encompassed territories in modern-day Slovakia, Romania, and Serbia, in addition to present-day Hungary. Notable individuals bearing this surname include János Balog (1495-1569), a renowned humanist scholar and diplomat who served as the personal secretary to King Louis II of Hungary.

In the 17th century, the BALOG surname appeared in several historical records, including the Urbarium of Zemplén County, which documented landowners and their properties. One such entry mentions a certain István Balog, who owned a significant estate in the village of Deregnyő (now part of Slovakia).

The 18th and 19th centuries saw the BALOG name spread throughout the Austro-Hungarian Empire, with bearers of the surname emerging in various professions and fields. Notable figures from this period include Pál Balog (1771-1833), a Catholic priest and writer who authored several theological works, and József Balog (1828-1909), a celebrated painter and art teacher who played a significant role in the development of Hungarian Realist art.

Throughout its history, the BALOG surname has been associated with numerous place names, such as Baloghfalva (now Blhovce in Slovakia) and Balogvölgy (now Bloževec in Slovenia), further underscoring its deep-rooted presence in the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Balog surname: questions and answers

How common is the Balog surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 436 in 2016. That gives Balog a modern rank of #11,062.

What does the Balog surname mean?

A Hungarian occupational surname referring to a hewer of wood or a woodcutter.

What does the Balog map show?

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