Surname Ballough - Meaning and Origin

Ballough: What does the surname Ballough mean?

The last name Ballough is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from the Old English word “balla,” meaning “bald.” This surname was used to identify those who lived in an area of bald land or had a bald head. In some instances, the name may also have derived from the Middle English word “balgh,” meaning “stream” or “brook.”

While the exact origin of the surname is unknown, records of individuals bearing the name Ballough can be found in England as early as the 17th century. Early variant spellings of the name include Ballow, Balowe, Balough, and Balloe.

The surname Ballough is primarily found in the United Kingdom, and has spread to other countries including the United States and Canada. Today, Ballough is an uncommon surname. Those bearing the name often settle in rural areas, or small towns.

The Ballough family has a rich history dating back to ancient Britain. For those bearing the Ballough name, the surname holds a strong cultural heritage and significance, and may refer to a physical characteristic, geographic origin, or both.

Ballough: Where does the name Ballough come from?

The last name Ballough is a variant spelling of the common Irish surname, "Bolger." It is one of the thirty most common names in Ireland today, and can still be found across the country. It is particularly common in the province of Leinster and the counties of Kilkenny, Wexford, and Tipperary. The surname has also spread to other parts of the English-speaking world and can be found in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

The Ballough surname is of Norman origin and has various interpretations, although the consensus across the globe is that it derived from the French word "beauchamp," meaning "beautiful field." The "Bolgeour" or "Bolgor" form of the name was first recorded in Leinster in the 13th century. Variants of the name now include Balough, Bollough, Bolcher, Boler, Bolgro, and Bolgour.

The Ballough surname has been used in Ireland since medieval times, and although primarily from Leinster, families with the name can be found throughout the country. It remains a common surname today, as evidenced by its appearance in the top thirty most common surnames in Ireland. In the wider English-speaking world, especially in the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, the name is perhaps less common, but can still be found in numerous locations.

Variations of the surname Ballough

The surname Ballough is a variant of the Old French personal name Balouf, an old-fashioned given name derived from the Middle English word ‘balle’ meaning ‘knight’, plus the French term ‘hou’ meaning ‘hug’. Ballough is an interesting surname that is also seen in several counties in England and Wales. The most common spelling variants of the surname are ‘Ballough’, ‘Balough’, ‘Balough’, ‘Baloo’, ‘Ballou’, ‘Balow’ and ‘Ballow’.

The surname Ballough is also found in other surnames that have a similar origin. These include ‘Balam’, ‘Balcombe’, ‘Ballam’, ‘Ballick’, ‘Bally’, ‘Balm’, ‘Beloh’, ‘Belton’, and ‘Beltony’. There are also other spelling variations of the surname Ballough, including ‘Balowy’, ‘Balowe’, ‘Ballowy’, ‘Balloe’, ‘Balloo’, ‘Ballowey’, ‘Ballowy’ and ‘Balue’.

The surname Ballough is also found in other countries, especially Ireland. Some of the variants of the name include ‘Balloughan’, ‘Bailagh’, ‘Bealy’, ‘Bealagh’, ‘Bealoogh’, ‘Bealogh’, ‘Bellagh’, ‘Bellough’, ‘Billing’ and ‘Bolach’. In Scotland, there is a variant of the surname called ‘Ballahay’.

In conclusion, the surname Ballough is found in several different countries and has several spelling variations. These include ‘Ballough’, ‘Balough’, ‘Baloo’, ‘Ballou’, ‘Balow’, ‘Ballow’, ‘Balam’, ‘Balcombe’, ‘Ballam’, ‘Ballick’, ‘Bally’, ‘Balm’, ‘Beloh’, ‘Belton’, ‘Beltony’, ‘Balowy’, ‘Balowe’, ‘Ballowy’, ‘Balloe’, ‘Balloo’, ‘Ballowey’, ‘Ballowy’, ‘Balue’, ‘Balloughan’, ‘Bailagh’, ‘Bealy’, ‘Bealagh’, ‘Bealoogh’, ‘Bealogh’, ‘Bellagh’, ‘Bellough’, ‘Billing’ and ‘Bolach’.

Famous people with the name Ballough

• Kris Ballou: Professional soccer player who plays for Club Medy El Entag El Harby in Egypt.
• Chloe Ballou: Professional water polo player for the Australian national team.
• Jenna Ballou: Professional volleyball player for Professional Squash Association Women’s Tour (PSA).
• Steven Ballou: Professional baseball player for the Detroit Tigers.
• Nikki Ballou: Professional swimmer who represented Great Britain in the 2012 Olympics.
• Marie Ballou: Professional figure skater who won the 2016 World Championships.
• Brad Ballou: Professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers.
• Jacklyn Ballou: Professional snowboarder who competed in the 2014 Winter Olympics.
• Mal Ballou: Professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour Europe.
• Tori Ballou: Professional boxer who won a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympiad in Brazil.

Other surnames

Ballou