Find out how popular the last name Balba is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Balba.

Balba, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Balba surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Balba in America

Balba is the 146201st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Balba surname appeared 113 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Balba.

The history of the last name Balba

The surname BALBA is of Italian origin, originating in the region of Lombardy during the medieval period. It is derived from the Latin word "balbus," meaning "stammerer" or "one who speaks with difficulty." This suggests that the name may have initially been a nickname or descriptive name given to someone who had a speech impediment or difficulty speaking clearly.

The earliest recorded instances of the BALBA surname can be found in historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries in northern Italy. One notable example is a reference to a Petrus Balba in a legal document from the city of Bergamo, dated 1278.

In the 15th century, the BALBA name appears in several historical records from the city of Milan. One notable figure was Giovanni Balba (c. 1430-1498), a prominent lawyer and diplomat who served as a legal advisor to the Sforza family, the ruling dukes of Milan.

The BALBA surname also has a strong association with the town of Chiari, located in the province of Brescia. In the 16th century, records mention a noble family named BALBA who held significant landholdings and influence in the region. One member of this family, Girolamo Balba (1527-1589), was a renowned scholar and philosopher who wrote extensively on topics such as ethics and metaphysics.

Moving into the 17th century, the BALBA name is found in various parts of Italy, including Genoa and Naples. In Genoa, a notable figure was Antonio Balba (1620-1688), a successful merchant and banker who played a significant role in the city's maritime trade.

Another noteworthy individual was Pietro Balba (1763-1832), a military officer from Naples who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a general in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

Throughout its history, the BALBA surname has also been associated with several place names, such as Balbiano, a small village near Milan, and Balba, a hamlet in the province of Cuneo, Piedmont. These place names may have influenced or been influenced by the surname's spelling and pronunciation over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Balba

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Balba.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Balba was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Balba was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Balba, please contact us.

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