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

Balentine, 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 Balentine surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Balentine in America

Balentine is the 10572nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Balentine surname appeared 3,032 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Balentine.

We can also compare 2010 data for Balentine to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Balentine

The surname Balentine has its origins in medieval England, with roots tracing back to the 12th century. It is believed to be a variant of the name "Valentine," derived from the Latin "Valentinus," meaning "strong" or "healthy." The first recorded instances of this surname appear in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1186, where it is spelled "Balantyn."

During the Norman conquest of England in the 11th century, many French and Norman settlers brought their names to the British Isles. The name Balentine likely emerged as a variant of the French name "Valentin," which was introduced to England by Norman nobles and soldiers. Over time, the spelling evolved to reflect the local English dialects and pronunciations.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name Balentine was Sir John Balentine, a knight who fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence during the late 13th and early 14th centuries. He was a loyal supporter of King Edward I of England and was granted lands in Northumberland for his military service.

In the 14th century, the Balentine family established themselves in the county of Northamptonshire, where they held estates and manors. Records from this period show variations in spelling, including "Balantyne," "Ballantyne," and "Ballanden." A notable member of the family was Sir William Balentine, who served as the High Sheriff of Northamptonshire in 1392.

The name Balentine also has ties to the Scottish Borders region, where it is believed to have derived from the old Scots word "balen," meaning "a dwelling" or "homestead." One of the earliest recorded instances of this variant spelling is found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which lists a "Richard de Balendene" as a landowner in Berwickshire.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, several individuals with the surname Balentine gained recognition in various fields. One notable figure was James Balentine, a poet and playwright born in 1552 in Stratford-upon-Avon, who was a contemporary of William Shakespeare. Another was Sir Robert Balentine, a prominent merchant and member of the East India Company, who lived from 1585 to 1648.

In the 18th century, the Balentine family had a strong presence in the American colonies, with several members playing roles in the Revolutionary War. Captain John Balentine, born in 1742 in Virginia, served in the Continental Army and fought in several major battles, including the Battle of Monmouth.

As the name Balentine spread across different regions, its spelling continued to evolve, with variations such as "Ballantine," "Ballantyne," and "Ballantin" emerging over time. Despite these variations, the name has maintained its distinct identity and historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Balentine

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

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 Balentine 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Balentine has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Balentine was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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