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

Ball, 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 Ball surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ball in America

Ball is the 508th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ball surname appeared 66,059 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 22 people would have the surname Ball.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ball 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 Ball

The surname Ball originated in medieval England, deriving from the Old English pre-7th century word 'beal' or 'beall', meaning a rounded hill or elevated ground. This name would have been used to distinguish people who lived on or near such geographical features.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Ball appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, compiled by order of William the Conqueror. Here, the name is listed as 'Balle' in the county of Suffolk. This early spelling variation highlights the name's longevity and Anglo-Saxon roots.

During the 13th century, the name was found in various regions across England, including Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire. Place names like Bawldwin Ball in Staffordshire and Ballinghall in Warwickshire may have contributed to the surname's development and spread.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Ball include John Ball, a influential rebel leader during the Peasants' Revolt of 1381. Another early figure was Thomas Ball, born around 1590, who served as an English clergyman and became the 37th Master of Christ's College, Cambridge.

In the 17th century, the Ball family established themselves as prominent landowners in Gloucestershire. One member, Sir Peter Ball (1615-1680), served as a Royalist officer during the English Civil War and later became a member of Parliament.

The 18th century saw the rise of George Ball (1765-1856), a prominent English lawyer and judge who served as Recorder of London and a Baron of the Exchequer. Meanwhile, John Ball (1585-1640), born in Cassington, Oxfordshire, was an influential Puritan minister and one of the earliest writers on the subject of covenant theology.

In the 19th century, Dyer Ball (1796-1869) gained recognition as an English naturalist and writer, publishing works on the flora and fauna of Ireland. Another notable figure was John Ball (1818-1889), an Irish mountain climber and naturalist who made significant contributions to the exploration of the European Alps.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals who have carried the surname Ball throughout history, reflecting its enduring presence and diverse origins across various regions of England and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ball

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

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

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

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