Surname Ballschun - Meaning and Origin
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Ballschun: What does the surname Ballschun mean?
The last name Ballschun is derived from a Germanic language. Its original spelling is Ballschuh and it can be broken down into two parts: bal/ball and schuh/schun, meaning "ball" and "shoe" respectively.
The name originated in Silesia, an area in the east of modern-day Germany, where it was known as Ballschuh. It was given to someone who made or worked with shoes - a shoemaker or shoemonger. Over time, the name gradually morphed from Ballschuh to Ballschun due to the influence of German or Yiddish dialects.
The name can also signify “a rounder”, which could refer to someone who plays bocce or bowls (two very popular activities in Silesia). In this interpretation, the word turns into- Ball-Schun, or “ball thrower”. This interpretation links the origin of the last name to the game that was widely practiced in Silesia.
All in all, the last name Ballschun has dual origins; as it combines both a shoemaker/shoemonger with a bowl or ball thrower. As such, when somebody has this last name, it can signal their family has a past in shoe-related occupations, or that they highly enjoy playing games such as bocce or bowls.
Order DNA origin analysisBallschun: Where does the name Ballschun come from?
The last name Ballschun is commonly found throughout Germany and Austria, particularly in the states of Bavaria, Thuringia, Saxony and Brandenburg. It is also present in areas of Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. In German, the name is most commonly spelled Ballschün.
The name Ballschun is derived from the Low German word, “ballschune,” which translates to “ball-tunnel” or “goose-dune” in English. This is indicative of an area where geese used to frequent, such as a beach or meadow. This type of name is common for areas along the German coast, such as the Baltic Sea, North Sea or the Elbe River.
The first known occurrence of the last name Ballschun can be traced back to 1308, when a man by the name of Davd Ballschune was recorded as a witness for the sale of a piece of land in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The oldest recorded Ballschun in Austria was Peter Ballschun, born in 1515 in Hofheim, Bavaria.
Today, Ballschun is a relatively uncommon surname, as it is estimated that there are only a few hundred people living with this name in Germany and Austria each year. Outside of these countries, Ballschun is almost unheard of, although it can still be found in some areas of Central and Eastern Europe, namely Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary.
Variations of the surname Ballschun
The surname Ballschun has variants such as Ballschmied, Ballsschmied and Ballschmidt. It is also spelled with various capitalization, such as Ballschun, BALLSCHUN, Ballschün, BALLSCHÜN, Ballschun, BALLSCHUN, Ballschün, and BALLSCHÜN.
The origins of this surname are unknown, but it is often associated with the Middle German word Balsschum, which referred to a blacksmith or a metal worker. This could suggest that an ancestor from the Ballschun family was likely skilled in metalwork.
The origins of its variations occurs largely as a result of regional differences. For instance, in southern Germany, the Western form ‘Ballschun’ is mainly used, while the Eastern form ‘Ballschmied’ is mainly used in northern Bavaria.
Variants of this surname include Ballschmiedt, Ballschmieder, Ballschmieden, Ballschmieder, Ballsomieder, Ballsomiede, Ballsomieder, and Ballsomieder.
Surnames of the same origin can be found in countries throughout Europe, such as France, Austria, Netherlands, Poland, and Serbia where it is known as ‘Balcki’.
In the United States, the Ballschun surname is also found with variants such as Ballishon, Ballschon, and Balsschon.
In some cases, the Ballschun surname can also be found with modified variations such as Ballischauer, Ballschauer and Ballschow for those who may have immigrated to the United States or to other countries outside of Europe.
The surname Ballschun can also be found as Balksin, Balkson and Barkson in the United Kingdom, which could be due to anglicisation of the name from its original German version.
Famous people with the name Ballschun
- Gerhard Ballschun: A former German footballer who played for Eintracht Braunschweig and Jahn Regensburg.
- Florian Ballschun: A German actor who is known for his roles in "The Experiment" (2010) and "Speer und Er" (2005).
- Harry Ballschun: An Austrian journalist, musician and PR consultant who has worked for high-profile companies including Siemens and Volkswagen.
- Karl Ballschun: A former German soccer player who played for VFL Bochum, Eintracht Braunschweig and Eintracht Bad Kreuznach.
- Richard Ballschun: A German venture capitalist and investor, he is the managing director of venture capital firm DB Ventures.
- Henning Ballschun: A German footballer who plays for FC Hansa Rostock II.
- Thomas Ballschun: A retired German soccer player, he is currently the head coach for TuS Koblenz.
- Thomas Ballschun: A German author and humorist, his work includes the novels "Die Bösen Buben" (2005) and "Drei: wie man Freunde gewinnt" (2005).
- Konstantin Ballschun: A German painter and sculptor, he is best known for his public artworks around the world.
- Ferencz Ballschun: A Hungarian soccer player who played in Belgium and in Hungary for Honvéd.