Surname Balter - Meaning and Origin

Balter: What does the surname Balter mean?

The last name Balter is an Ashkenazic Jewish surname. It is derived from the German word "balter," which means "dancer." It likely originated as a nickname for a person who was a particularly proficient dancer or possibly someone who led dances! This surname may have also been used to refer to someone who was a deportment teacher, leader of a cotilion, or master of ceremonies for a dance.

The Balter surname is more commonly found among Ashkenazic Jewish families, particularly those with links to the German-speaking regions of Europe. It is from this region that the Balter name appears to originate. However, the Balter surname is also found in other countries, including Russia, Lithuania, and Ukraine.

The Balter surname is believed to descend from a number of different families, none of whom can yet be identified. Despite this, the Balter surname is recognised as an important and much beloved part of Ashkenazic Jewish genealogical history.

A prominent Balter is James Balter, a U.S. Olympic ice dancer who competed in the 2010 Winter Olympics. He and partner Emily Samuelson won the silver medal in ice dancing.

Balter: Where does the name Balter come from?

The last name Balter is mostly found in the United States, Canada, and Israel. In the United States, the Balter surname is quite rare. According to the 2020 United States census, only 0.01% of people bear the last name Balter.

In Canada, the last name Balter is slightly more widespread. Statistics Canada found that 0.04% of Canadians bear the surname. It is most commonly found in Ontario and the adjacent province of Quebec.

In Israel, the last name Balter has a longer history. It is believed to have originated from Jewish immigrants from eastern Europe, who chose the name in the early twentieth century. It is a fairly common name in modern Israel, ranking at number 511 among all surnames. Today, the surname Balter is more widespread in Israel than the United States and Canada.

Overall, the last name Balter is quite rare. In the United States and Canada, it is found in very small numbers, and in Israel, it is more common but still ranks outside the top 500. Nevertheless, the surname Balter is a testament to generations of families who have kept it alive through the years.

Variations of the surname Balter

The surname Balter has several variants and spellings, with Balthar, Balthor, Balthour, Balter, Boulter and Boulthor being among the most common. It is derived from the Middle High German word “bald”, meaning “bold”. In some cases, it was also used as a nickname for someone who was brave or courageous in battle.

The variants of Balter have been used in many countries, including France, England, Germany and the United States. The Balthar spelling is especially common in France, where it is an occupational surname originated from people who were smiths. In England, the spelling Boulter was often used for people who worked as millers.

Different spellings of this surname were also found in Germany, where it was most likely used as a nickname for a bold soldier. The spelling Balthor is arguably the most common of the German variants, used to designate someone who was brave in battle.

Balter is most commonly found in the United States and other parts of the English-speaking world. This spelling likely originated in the American colonies during the 1700s, where settlers from all over Europe used it as a way to identify themselves.

Overall, the variants of this surname are divided into two main categories: occupational surnames and those of Spanish-American origin. The occupational variants, Balthar, Boulter and Balthor, were used by those in craftsmanship industries. The Spanish-American variants, Balter and Boulthor, were used primarily by people in the United States, as well as in other Spanish-speaking countries.

Famous people with the name Balter

• Joel Balter: musical artist and cardiologist
• Jeff Balter: actor and comedian
• Jessica Balter: designer and flood innovator
• Kenneth Balter: MLB drummer
• Abbie Balter: author and lecturer
• Henry Balter: film director
• Paul Balter: politician and historian
• Arthur Balter: architect and urban planner
• Gary Balter: businessman and chemist
• Barbara Balter: biochemist and professor
• Scott Balter: Olympian and academic coach
• Michael Balter: author and journalist
• David Balter: mathematician and statistician
• Steven Balter: neurologist and professor
• Julia Balter: illustrator and graphic designer
• Larry Balter: writer and artist
• Jonathan Balter: medical doctor
• Liz Balter: attending physician
• William Balter: musician and artist
• Joseph Balter: designer and researcher

Other surnames

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