Origin of the surname Balston

This interesting surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is locational from a now "lost" place, thought to have been in Devonshire, due to the large number of recordings in that county. The placename means either "Beald's valley", or "Beald's settlement", derived from the personal name "Beald", of uncertain origin, but possibly from the Germanic element "bald", bold, brave, with the Old English pre 7th century "denu", valley, or the Old English "tun", settlement, farm. An estimated seven to ten thousand villages and hamlets are known to have disappeared in Britain since circa 1100, due to such natural disasters as the Black Death of 1348, in which an eighth of the population perished, or to the widespread practice of "clearing" large areas of land to make sheep pastures during the height of the wool-trade in the 14th and 15th centuries.

The modern surname can be found as Balston, Balsdon, Ballston, Balstone, Balsdone and Ballsdon. Among the recordings in Devonshire are the marriages of Thomasyne Balston and Edward Sticker on August 10th 1617 at Axminster, and of Phillip Balston and Agnes Lake on September 30th 1632 at Holy Trinity, Exeter. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Balstone, (witness), which was dated October 28th 1562, at Honiton-on-Otter, Devonshire, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

The surname Balston. Genealogy, origin, history, meaning, and significance

The history of the surname balston is, like that of most surnames, a complex and fascinating journey to ancient times with the aim of unraveling the origin of balston. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname balston is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation. We can try to trace the genealogy of the surname balston, and in addition to the original locations of balston, we can find out where people with the surname balston can currently be found. Adhering to what we know about the way surnames originated, it is possible to offer a realistic explanation of the origins of balston.

The surname Balston around the world

It is common for surnames like balston to become known in places far removed from their country or region of origin. Discover which ones. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname balston provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations. The mobility of people carrying the surname balston has led to its presence in different countries, as you can verify.

History of Balston

The historical journey of the surname balston can be traced back to those who were the first bearers of balston. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname balston, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of balston developed. The history, heraldry, coats of arms, and possible nobility of the surname balston are scattered in documents across various regions and historical periods, so it is necessary to reconstruct a complex puzzle to approach the facts from a realistic perspective. In the following lines, you will find everything we have been able to gather about the surname balston.

You can visit us regularly to get more information about the origin of the surname balston, as we frequently accept significant contributions from other individuals interested in heraldry and the history of surnames. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about balston and send it to us, we will update it on this website. Please note that if you are in a position to provide more data about the surname balston or any other surname and its origin, we would appreciate your collaboration with us by sending us information about the origin of balston.

Notable Figures Named Balston

Unfortunately, it's highly probable that not all balstons who performed notable deeds have been included in historical chronicles and records. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname balston were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. A surname like balston can connect a person to an illustrious lineage and a distinguished coat of arms. However, it must be kept in mind that it is individual people who, through their lives and actions, bring fame and recognition to their surnames. If you or someone you know bears the surname balston, you could potentially build illustrious lineages through your efforts and virtues. It is our desire to highlight in this section those individuals with the surname balston who, for various reasons, have left their mark on the course of history.

The surname Balston and its bibliographic sources

It goes without saying that consulting bibliographic and documentary sources is essential when accessing information about the origins of the surname balston. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of balston are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation. We consider it highly advisable to refer to the following sources if you wish to conduct research on the surname balston, as well as many other surnames. Accessing the archives of the town or towns where your ancestors were born and lived is, of course, a good way to trace the origins of balston.

SOURCES

These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of balston, and at the same time, of surnames in general.

Origin of Balston