Surname Balnus - Meaning and Origin

Balnus: What does the surname Balnus mean?

The surname Balnus is not commonly found outside of Denmark, although it is thought that it may be a variation of the German surname Balzer. The origin of the surname is unclear, but it appears to be of Germanic or Scandinavian origins.

In Germany, Balnus is found as a diminutive of Balzer, derived from the German word "balz", which means 'to bark'. The English equivalent would be "Bailey", the name given to a guard dog or a person who looks after a castle's entrance.

In Scandinavian countries, Balnus is thought to be derived from the old Norse words "balk" and "naus", meaning "betray" and "disgrace". This suggests that the name was taken to be an epithet for those of dishonorable or untruthful character. Alternatively, Balnus may have been derived from the Swedish word "bal", meaning "a town with few inhabitants".

The surname Balnus is not among the most frequent of surnames in Denmark, suggesting it is either a relatively recently adopted name, or that it is used as a surname only by a small group of people. Whichever explanation is correct, the name is a reminder of Danish and Nordic roots.

Balnus: Where does the name Balnus come from?

The last name Balnus is of French origin and is most commonly found in that region today, especially in the Lorraine region where it is most commonly found. It can also be found in other parts of France and in parts of Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Germany.

The first instance of the Balnus name appeared in the mid-13th century in France. It was given to a count of the barony of Aneuville. Over the centuries the Balnus name spread throughout France, eventually reaching the United States in the late-1800s.

Balnus is an uncommon last name in the United States. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, the name is most common in the Midwest, where only 107 people had the last name. Florida is second on the list with 94 Americans with the last name Balnus. California, Pennsylvania, and Michigan round out the top five states with the most Balnus family members.

Many people with the last name Balnus have French ancestry in their family tree. This is supported by the fact that the name is most popular in the U.S. in Midwest and Southern states—both regions with large percentages of French and French Canadian descendants.

Though Balnus is an uncommon name in the United States, it is still widely used in France. In the 2000 census in the Lorraine region of France—the area where the name is most commonly found—there were more than 10,000 people with the last name Balnus.

Variations of the surname Balnus

The surname Balnus is believed to have derived from the Latin root word meaning “to be suspended or held.” This surname can be found in areas of Spain, France, Portugal, Italy and Germany. Variants of this surname include Balni, Ballni, Balnos, Balnus, Balenus, Balenas, Balenos, Balenus, Balanus, Bellinus and Bellnus.

In Spain, Balneo is a common variant. It is sometimes spelled as Piadbalneo, with the “Piad” prefix indicating the name’s origin in Navarra. In Portugal, the surname is often spelled as Balela orBalné.

In Italy, the Balnus surname is sometimes spelled as Baleno. This variant is found mainly in the south of the country, especially the regions of Abruzzo and Molise. In some cases, families with this surname were known to have emigrated to the United States from Italy in the late 19th century.

In France, the Balnus surname is often spelled as Ballnus, Ballni, Ballenus, or Balenus. The latter variant is a French form of Ballnus, and is commonly found in the central/western part of the country.

In Germany, the spelling of Balnus varies but can include Balne, Balnos, Balner, Balnerz, Balnert, Balnitz and Balnau. The German forms of this surname are most common in the states of Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Brandenburg. It is also found in German-speaking areas of Austria and Switzerland.

Famous people with the name Balnus

• Mark Ballas: Professional dancer, choreographer, singer-songwriter, and actor
• Lynne Ballas: Champion figure skater
• Michael Balnis: Professional basketball player
• Chris Ballas: Singer and songwriter
• Evan Ballas: Actor
• Brendan Ballas: Voice actor
• Alex Balnis: Professional footballer
• Andie Ballas: Singer and songwriter
• Adam Balnis: Professional tennis player
• George Ballas: Founder of the Weed Eater company

Other surnames

BalnußBalnuweit