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

Ballard, 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 Ballard surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ballard in America

Ballard is the 544th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ballard surname appeared 61,625 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 21 people would have the surname Ballard.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ballard 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 Ballard

The surname Ballard has its origins in medieval England, specifically in the northern regions of the country. It is derived from the Old French word "baillard," which means "a person who managed the estates of others." The name's roots can be traced back to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, when many French-speaking individuals settled in various parts of the country.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ballard can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population records commissioned by William the Conqueror. The book mentions several individuals with the surname Ballard, indicating that the name was already established in England by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the name Ballard was often associated with individuals who held positions of responsibility or authority, particularly in the management of estates or manors. This connection can be seen in the place names that incorporated the surname, such as Ballard's Ash in Hampshire and Ballard's Green in Essex.

One of the most notable figures with the surname Ballard in English history was Sir William Ballard (1472-1550), a prominent landowner and courtier during the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII. He served as a member of the Privy Council and held various positions of importance, including Lieutenant of the Tower of London.

Another significant individual with this surname was Robert Ballard (1575-1654), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Bishop of Oxford from 1638 until his death. He was known for his religious writings and his contributions to the translation of the King James Bible.

In the literary world, the name Ballard is associated with the English novelist and short story writer J.G. Ballard (1930-2009), renowned for his works of science fiction and dystopian literature, including "Empire of the Sun" and "Crash."

The Ballard surname has also had a presence in the United States, with notable individuals such as Robert Ballard (born 1942), the renowned oceanographer and explorer best known for his discovery of the wreckage of the RMS Titanic in 1985.

Additionally, the surname has been linked to various place names in the United States, such as Ballard County in Kentucky and the city of Ballard in Washington state, reflecting the migration and settlement patterns of individuals bearing this name.

Throughout its history, the surname Ballard has maintained a strong association with its English roots and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, ranging from noblemen and clergymen to writers and explorers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ballard

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

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

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

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