Surname Balssen - Meaning and Origin

Balssen: What does the surname Balssen mean?

The last name Balssen is of Dutch origin. It is derived from the Germanic word 'bals', which means 'mine' or 'pit'. This suggests it may be locational, usually indicating a place of origin or residency, or have been adopted to reflect a profession or trade once held by the original bearer.

Balssen may also be an occupational surname, relating to a job in the mining industry, or it may even have been bestowed as a nickname for a person who worked with a particular type of metal. In either case, it would likely have been taken on by a family and passed down to subsequent generations.

The most likely origin of Balssen is either a village or settlement called Balssen, located in Holland, or it may have been a residence called Balssen. In Dutch records, the Balssen name is found in the medieval period, with references to a certain Balssen Balssen, who was a mayor of Utrecht in the 13th century. It is also recorded as the name of a street and a church in the city of Bergen op Zoom.

So, although the origins of Balssen are not definitively known, it is possible to deduce that the name may be a locational surname of Dutch origin, related to the word 'bals' meaning 'pit' or 'mine', or an occupational surname associated with mining. It has a long history in both the Netherlands and Germany, and was taken on by a family and passed down through the generations.

Balssen: Where does the name Balssen come from?

The surname Balssen is most commonly found today among people of Dutch ancestry. In Netherlands, Balssen is a toponymic surname derived from a place name in the province of Overijssel, which is a census-designated place in the province. Balssen is a relatively rare surname, but appears to have a history going back to at least the 16th century.

As of 2020, the surname is a relatively uncommon name in the United States, but can still be found in some parts of the country. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2019 the surname Balssen was the 2,311,678th most common surname in the United States, with 809 households within the United States having the last name Balssen. Most of these come from the states of Wisconsin and Minnesota.

In Canada, the surname Balssen is 1,454,133rd most common, with 154 households having the surname. This surname is mostly found in Ontario.

Balssen is also relatively common in Australia, it is the 23,865th most common surname, with 352 households with the surname. Most of these households are found in New South Wales and Victoria.

In Germany, Balssen is a much more common surname, being the 139,165th most common surname, with 1,481 households having the name. Similar to the U.S., most of these households come from the states of North Rhine Westphalia and Bavaria.

Overall, the surname Balssen is an uncommon surname, but is likely to become more widespread as immigration continues to expand around the globe.

Variations of the surname Balssen

Balssen is a surname of German origin that is derived from the Middle High German word “balze,” which means “plain.” This surname often appears in various regional spellings, as well as many variations and additional surnames of the same origin.

The most common spelling of Balssen is Balse, which is the spelling seen in much of Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Additionally, the following spellings can all be found in German-speaking countries: Bausen, Balz, Blössen, Balsen, Baelz, and Bölz.

Outside Germany and other Germanic countries, Balssen is often spelled differently. In Scotland, it is commonly seen as Balsom, while in England, it appears as Baielso, Bailes, Bailz, Bails, and Bailsen. In the United States, the spelling is most often Balssan, as well as Boolsan and Bolsen.

The many variations and spellings of this significant surname often become more distinct over time and can indicate different branches of the same family. Other surnames that are related to Balssen and have similar origins include Baus, Bau, Blumenthal, Balz, and Bölts.

Famous people with the name Balssen

• Margo Balssen Goldsmith: American Olympic diver.
• Charles Balssen: Swiss cyclist and five-time national cycling champion in the late 19th to early 20th century.
• Claire Balssen: French soprano singer.
• August Balssen: German politician, member of the German National People's Party from 1915 to 1933.
• Ludwig Balssen: German sculptor of the 19th century.
• Wilma Balssen: German researcher and educationalist.
• Caroline Balssen: German GDR handball player.
• Julius Balssen: German sculptor who created impressive churches and monuments in Germany during the 19th century.
• Henning Balssen: German botanist, ornithologist and zoologist.
• Herman Balssen: Norwegian forestry educator.

Other surnames

BalssBalsser