Balaban
A surname meaning "small coot" in Turkish.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,440 Americans carry the last name Balaban. That puts it at #21,260 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.42 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 238,024 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Balaban surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
1.4K
1 in 238,024
Census rank
#21,260
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.2K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,233 bearers of the surname Balaban in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.42 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 21260th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Balaban, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Two or More Races (1.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Balaban
The surname "Balaban" originated in Turkey, with its earliest known records dating back to the 12th century AD. The name is derived from the Turkish word "balaban," which means "large falcon" or "hawk." It is believed that this surname was initially given to individuals who were skilled falconers or those who worked with birds of prey.
One of the earliest references to the name "Balaban" can be found in the Ottoman Empire's administrative records from the 15th century. These records mention several individuals with this surname who held various positions within the empire's bureaucracy.
During the Ottoman period, the Balaban family rose to prominence, with several members serving as high-ranking officials and military leaders. One notable figure was Semiz Ali Pasha Balaban, who lived between 1499 and 1565. He was a prominent Ottoman statesman and served as the Grand Vizier (chief minister) under Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.
Another famous bearer of the Balaban surname was Hüseyin Balikçı Balaban, a 17th-century Ottoman naval commander who played a crucial role in the Ottoman-Venetian wars. He was born in 1602 and died in 1666.
The surname "Balaban" can also be found in various historical documents from the Crimean Khanate, a Turkic-ruled state that existed from the 15th to the 18th century in the northern Black Sea region. These records mention several individuals with this surname who held positions within the Khanate's administration and military.
In the 19th century, a notable figure with the Balaban surname was Ibrahim Balaban, a Turkish diplomat and statesman who served as the Ottoman Empire's ambassador to several European countries, including France and Russia. He lived from 1818 to 1886.
Another prominent individual with the Balaban surname was Mehmet Ali Balaban, a Turkish painter and calligrapher who lived from 1877 to 1957. He is celebrated for his contributions to the revival of traditional Turkish arts and his efforts in preserving Ottoman calligraphic styles.
While the surname "Balaban" is primarily associated with Turkey and the former Ottoman Empire, it has also spread to other regions, particularly among Turkish communities in the Balkans and Central Asia. However, its origins can be traced back to the Turkish word "balaban" and its historical roots in the medieval period.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Balaban
Among Census respondents with the surname Balaban, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Two or More Races (1.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Balaban bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Balaban surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.0%
- Hispanic or Latino2.5%
- Two or more races1.4%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Balaban surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #21,260 | #21,260 | 0.0% |
| Count | 1,233 | 1,233 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.42 | 0.42 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Balaban bearers went from 1,233 to 1,233 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #21,260 to #21,260.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Balaban
FAQ
Balaban surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Balaban?
The surname Balaban holds position #21,260 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,440 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.42 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Balaban surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Balaban, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Two or More Races (1.4%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.