Surname Balsing - Meaning and Origin

Balsing: What does the surname Balsing mean?

The last name Balsing is of German origin. It is derived from the German word "balsen," which means "to blow." The surname is believed to have been given to families who were living in the areas of Germany bordering the Netherlands. The surname suggests someone in the Balsing line was employed in the leather, glass or metal industries at some point, as blowing was a method used for working with these materials.

The Balsing family was involved with the Royal House of Hohenzollern in the early 19th century, which was a ruling dynasty in Prussia. The family name was originally Balz, a variation of Balsing, and was changed to Balsing when members of the family emigrated to the United States in the mid 1800's.

The name Balsing is still found today throughout North America, with the majority living in the United States and Canada. In Germany, people with the name are mainly found in the northern area of Germany between Hamburg and Kiel.

The name Balsing is associated with a sense of determination and strong work ethic, likely inherited from the family's history of industry work in Germany. The name may also represent a legacy of faithfulness and commitment, as this is a quality passed on from generations.

Balsing: Where does the name Balsing come from?

The last name Balsing is an uncommon surname today, with less than 200 individuals in the world who currently share this surname. The name is more commonly found in the Netherlands, Belgium, and northern Germany, with some smaller populations in France, Spain, and Great Britain.

The origin of the Balsing surname is uncertain however, genealogical records suggest it is of German or Dutch origin. Family History research indicates that the earliest people with this name likely lived in the Netherlands, near the border with Germany. It appears to be derived from a personal name ‘Bals’, which is related to the Dutch ‘baals’ meaning ‘bald’.

Today, the Balsing surname is most concentrated in the Netherlands, mainly in the province of Limburg and in some cities in the north such as Amsterdam and Groningen. In Belgium, the surname is still present in the provinces of Flemish Brabant, West Flanders, and East Flanders. In Germany, there are smaller populations of Balsing in the Rhineland Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Baden-Württemberg.

In England, Australia, Canada, and the United States, where people with the last name Balsing have emigrated from Europe since the 1800s, the surname is very rare.

Researching the Balsing surname may also yield scatters groups in areas of Austria and Switzerland, as well as northern Italy.

Variations of the surname Balsing

Balsing is a relatively unusual surname believed to have originated in the Netherlands and Belgium. It is thought to be derived from the Middle Dutch word ‘belsing’, which refers to a metal clapper used to call animals home. As the surname spread throughout the world it has been variously spelt, with variations such as Ballsing, Ballsink, Balsink, and Belsing.

In the Netherlands the surname is often found as Balsen or Balsingh. In Belgium it is more commonly found as Bauwens or Bauws. The alternate spellings may have arisen due to local dialects, or because the same surname was adapted in different parts of the world in the Middle Ages.

Balsing and its variations have been found in records as far back as the 16th century in the Netherlands and Belgium. In German records it is often seen as Ballsing, Ballsink or Balsink. The Bauws or Bauwens version is thought to have come from the Flemish Bau and Bauw families and has been found in records in Belgium from the 17th century.

The surname Balsing is believed to have spread to the United States during the 19th century, where it is most often seen as Balsing, Balsink, Ballsing or Belsing. In Canada it is most commonly seen as Balsing, although the spelling Bauwens has been found in records in and around the Grand Plain region in Ontario.

Overall, Balsing is a rare surname with many variants and ancestral connections in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Its many spellings indicate that it was adapted as it was carried around the world in centuries gone by.

Famous people with the name Balsing

• Karl Balsing: German actor and TV presenter
• Lothar Balsing: German-born American actor known for his roles in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me and Munich
• Yuko Balsing: Japanese Olympic short-track speed skater
• Martin Balsing: Dutch football goalkeeper
• Henrik Balsing: Swedish politician and member of Parliament
• George Balsing: American photographer and cinematographer
• Tom Balsing: Canadian zoologist, naturalist, and academic
• Eliza Balsing: American actress and singer
• Ida Balsing: Finnish long-distance runner 10.Jürgen Balsing: German footballer and coach

Other surnames

Balsiger