Surname Balaz - Meaning and Origin

Balaz: What does the surname Balaz mean?

The last name Balaz is a common Czech surname that is derived from the first name Balaž, which was popularized during the 14th century. Balaz is derived from the Czech word 'bál', meaning 'goose'. During that time, people began to use nicknames as surnames. Since the Slavic language didn't contain letters like “ž”, as time went on, the name began to take on the spelling 'Balaz'. This spelling held more or less until the 19th century when the Czech language absorbed more Western influence.

Balaz is also an occupational name, as it could have pertain to people who worked with geese such as hunting or raising them. Geese were a common sight in rural areas accompanying peasants in their daily routines.

Balaz has been more recently found in Slovakia, where it is a quite popular last name. Other forms of this name are Balazova, Balazovsky, Balaza and Balazi.

Overall, the surname Balaz is a meaningful and unique surname with its roots in the Slavic language and history.

Balaz: Where does the name Balaz come from?

The last name Balaz is quite common in eastern Europe, particularly in countries such as Slovenia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Romania. It is estimated that 10,000 people in Europe bear the surname.

The chances are high that the surname or its variants dates back to the 13th century, when many Slavic families adopted it. The word Balaz is originally derived from the Old Czech name Beláž and ultimately comes from the word beležič which means “recorder” or “registrar”.

In modern times, Beláž and its variants including Balaz and Baláž are widely used in Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, and Romania as a patronymic surname, used to distinguish people with the same given name. It is also occasionally used as a first name.

Balaz is a phonetic variation of the ancestral name, but may also simply be a nick name for Beláž and its variants. It also transcribed the original spelling of Beláž for people who were unable or unwilling to write properly.

Today, the surname Balaz is predominantly found in Central and Eastern European countries. It is also common among immigrants in North America, South America, Australia, and New Zealand.

Variations of the surname Balaz

Balaz is a surname of eastern and central European origins, with its roots tracing back to the Slavic language. Its variants include the Czech spelling of Balaz, Baláz, Balazs, Bálazs, Balass, Belas, Belasz, and Belasa, the Slovak spelling of Balazová, Balazova, Balazovic, Balazovicova, Balazsovszky, and Balazsovszkyova, as well as the Hungarian spelling of Balazs, Balázs, and Balazsovics.

The surname Balaz is also found in other forms, such as the Ukrainian spelling of Balazs, Balass, Balasz, and Belasz, the Polish spelling of Balaz, Balass, and Balazs, and the Serbian spelling of Balazevic or Balasevic. Some other forms of the surname include Balasek in Czech, Balascak in Slovak and Balazky in Hungarian.

In the United States, the surname Balaz is found most commonly among those of Eastern European or Bohemian descent, although it has also been found among those descended from German or Polish families. Other variations in the spelling of the surname Balaz can also be found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy.

In some cases, a variation in spelling also exists among those who have adopted the Balaz surname. In the United States, for example, the spelling Balazs is more common than Balaz. In other countries such as Turkey, the spelling Balas is more commonly used.

Therefore, the surname Balaz may be found in a variety of spellings and variants, depending on the country of origin. Each variant is based on the same root and origin, but the various spellings are often indicative of the different dialects within which the surname has been used.

Famous people with the name Balaz

• Miroslav Balaz, former Czechoslovak ice hockey winger
• Ales Balaz, Slovak ice hockey player
• Karol Balaz, Slovak footballer, coach and manager
• Joseph Balaz, American basketball player
• David Balaz, Croatian actor and producer
• Emiri Balaz, Serbian swimmer
• Tomaz Balaz, Slovenian actor and producer
• Ladislav Balaz, Czechoslovakian football player
• Adriana Balaz, professional Slovenian tennis player
• Vladimir Balaz, Slovak film director
• Pierre Balaz, Quebecois ice hockey player
• Mirko Balaz, Croatian former canoer
• Lukas Balaz, professional Czechoslovakian ice hockey player
• Marko Balaz, Serbian screenwriter and director
• Petr Balaz, professional Czech footballer
• Marek Balaz, Czechoslovakian former swimmer
• Marian Balaz, Slovakian long distance runner
• Balazs Baja, Hungarian actor
• Dalibor Balaz, Serbian chess grand master
• Zita Balazs, Hungarian water polo player

Other surnames

BalandowiczBalazs