Surname Balfour - Meaning and Origin

Balfour: What does the surname Balfour mean?

The surname Balfour is of Scottish origin and is derived from the village of Balfour, near Fern, in the county of Perth. The name itself comes from the Scots Gaelic "baile" and "fuar," which respectively mean "farm" or "settlement" and "cold.” So, Balfour can be loosely translated to "cold farm" or "cold settlement." The Balfour family has a long history in Scotland, with documented evidence of the surname going back to the 14th century. Today, notable bearers of the famous name include the British politician and statesman Arthur James Balfour, who served as UK Prime Minister from 1902 to 1905, and the Canadian NHL player Jason Balfour. The surname symbolizes a connection to Scottish heritage and ancestry.

Balfour: Where does the name Balfour come from?

The surname Balfour is of Scottish origin and is a habitational name from any of several places named Balfour, particularly the one near Glenrothes in Fife. The name itself means "broad ford" in Gaelic, from "balla" meaning wide and "fur" meaning ford. The name is first documented in the 13th century, with one Michael de Balfoure, who witnessed a charter of land in Fife around the year 1234.

In the historical sense, it is associated with the aristocratic Balfour family within the Scottish Nobility, notably the Balfours of Burleigh. One of the most famous Balfours is Arthur James Balfour, who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1902 to 1905.

Today, the surname Balfour can be found throughout the United Kingdom, especially Scotland, as well as other parts of the English-speaking world, such as the United States and Australia. It is also common in parts of Canada, particularly due to immigration from Scotland. Despite its dispersal, it remains particularly rooted in its homeland of Scotland.

Variations of the surname Balfour

The surname Balfour is derived from several places in Scotland, which are named with the Scots Gaelic "baile", meaning "farm", and "fuar", meaning "cold". Variants of the surname Balfour include Balfoure, Balfower, Balffor, Balfore, Balfuer, Balfewr, Balfur, Balffour, Balffoure and Balffower. All these variations have developed due to inconsistencies in spelling in historical documentation as well as regional differences in pronunciation. It was not uncommon for the same individual to be recorded with different spellings at different times.

There is also a variant spelling found as Balfor, but this is significantly less common than others.

However, it's hard to determine definitive spellings as they tend to differ dramatically depending on the time and place.

One must also take into consideration that the surnames can usually be traced back to their place of origin or a significant ancestor, any alternative versions of a surname often come from shortened, anglicized, or regional versions of the original name. The surname Balfour has a significant presence in Scotland and Northern English regions. Surnames that include prefixes such as "Mac," meaning son of, and "O", meaning grandson of, are a common feature in Gaelic names.

Famous people with the name Balfour

• Arthur Balfour: British politician and former Prime Minister who served from 1902-1905. He was in favour of free trade, and his Prime Ministership brought about the Education Act of 1902, the Entailment (Scotland) Act and the Balfour Declaration (support for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine).
• Ray Balfour: British actor, best known for his roles in Sherlock Holmes, The Man Who Knew Too Much, and The Red Shoes.
• William Balfour: Scottish archaeologist and naturalist who conducted an expedition to the South Sea Islands in the 1830s.
• Clara Balfour: British suffragette and activist who was influential in the movement to give women the right to vote.
• Margaret Balfour: British author of children’s books, hymns, and nature stories.
• Louise Balfour: British painter in the symbolist style, as well as a campaigner for social justice and education reform.
• Philip Balfour: British author, often writing in the vein of Gothic literature.
• Michael Balfour: British trade unionist and steel worker, who was an active voice in the struggle for workers’ rights.
• George Balfour: British Liberal Party politician and Member of Parliament who sat in the House of Commons from 1874–1880.
• James Balfour: Canadian photographer and early pioneer of the medium, whose subjects included the landscapes and people of British Columbia.

Other surnames

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