Surname Ballow - Meaning and Origin

Ballow: What does the surname Ballow mean?

The surname Ballow is of English origin and it is believed to be locational, derived from a place. The name is most likely a variation of the name "Ballard", which refers to a "bald-headed person" in Old English. Many English surnames originated from physical characteristics, occupations, nicknames or locations. Locational surnames were often given to those who left their village or place of origin to live somewhere else and were then identified by the name of their birthplace. The specific origins of the name Ballow however, are not definitively set, and it could potentially have other cultural or regional meanings. Like many surnames, Ballow's meaning may have evolved or changed over time.

Ballow: Where does the name Ballow come from?

The surname Ballow primarily has its roots in Western European countries. It is believed to have originated from a locational origin, specifically from the towns named Ballon in Maine and Loire in France, as well as Ballum in Denmark. The name might have initially been used by people from these areas who had moved to new places, as an identifier of their home town. There are other theories too, suggesting its origin from old personal names like Ball, which derive from 'bald' meaning brave or bold.

Currently, the last name Ballow has significant presence in the United States, mostly concentrated in the states of Texas, Ohio, Virginia, California, and Tennessee. It is statistically one of the less common surnames, hence it is not very prominent in other parts of the world. Other regions where the surname exists, albeit in smaller numbers, include England, Australia, and Canada. As with most old surnames, the Ballow name has many spelling variants including Ballo, Ballho, Ballowe, and others, seen in different parts of the world.

Variations of the surname Ballow

The surname Ballow has multiple variants and spellings that have been used throughout history. Some of these include Ballou, Ballowe, Ballough, Balloway, Balow, Balough, and Ballougho.

It is frequently seen in English and Scottish history, and sometimes it could be a variant of "Ballou", a name of French origin which was brought to England following the Norman Conquest in 1066. In this case, other possible variants might include Balloux, Ballaux, or Balleux.

In some cases, the variations of the name could have been a result of phonetic spelling by officials such as census takers, due to different local dialects and accents. In other instances, people may have changed the spelling of their surnames purposefully, such as when families emigrated to new countries and wanted to blend in more easily.

The surname Ballow might also be connected to geographical location, possibly derived from names of towns or landmarks. In this context, other surnames with the same origin could include names like Ballon, Ballone, or Balltown.

However, tracing the exact origin and all potential variants of a name can be quite challenging due to historical record discrepancies and language evolution over time.

Famous people with the name Ballow

• Candace Ballow: American actress who had minor roles in films such as Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest (1995), Star Trek: Voyager (1995), and The X-Files (1998).
• Doris Ballow: an American actress who had guest roles in television shows such as Murder, She Wrote (1985), MacGyver (1985), and Cheers (1985).
• Paul Ballow: a former right fielder who played Major League Baseball from 1954 to 1964 and later became a coach and a scout.
• Murray Ballow: an American physician who served as President of American Association of Neurological Surgeons from 2001 to 2002.
• Gilbert Ballow: an accomplished author and lecturer, best known for writing The History of Connecticut: From Its First Settlement in 1633 to the Present Time (1925).
• Mark Ballow: an American orthopedic surgeon who served as the president of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons from 2012 to 2013.
• Lance Ballow: an attorney and professor of law who served as the dean of the South Texas College of Law.
• Lee Ballow: an American artist whose sculptures have been exhibited in the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art.
• David Ballow: the co-founder and former CEO of Airborne Express, a national delivery service.
• Sherrill Ballow: an American television actor, best known for starring in the television series Hill Street Blues (1982).

Other surnames

BallochBallouBallough