Explore the Family Name Bal
The meaning of Bal
1. Indian (Punjab): Sikh name based on the name of a Jat tribe, from Sanskrit bala ‘strength’. 2. Turkish: ornamental name, nickname, or metonymic occupational name from bal ‘honey’. 3. Polish: from Bal, a short form of the personal name Baltazar. This surname is also found among Rusyns (Lemkos). 4. French and Dutch: from a short form of a personal name of ancient Germanic origin based on the element bal, presumably meaning ‘torment, spitefulness’ (see Ballard and Ballon), or bald ‘bold’ (see Baldwin). 5. Dutch: perhaps also from bal ‘ball’, a topographic or habitational name referring to a house distinguished by the sign of a ball, or a metonymic occupational name denoting a manufacturer of balls (compare the surname Balmakers). 6. Sorbian: from a short form of the personal name Bałcar (see Baltazar) or Baltyn (see Valentine). It is found mainly in the Germanized form Bahl. Some characteristic forenames: Indian Krishan, Avtar, Balwinder, Ganesh, Gursharan, Hardev, Karnail, Mahendra, Raj, Ravi, Subhash, Sudarshan. Polish Kazimierz, Janusz, Malgorzata, Piotr, Wojciech.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Bal in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Bal has seen a significant increase between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 19,018 in terms of prevalence, but by 2010, it had climbed to 14,794, marking a 22.21% change. The count of individuals with this surname also rose from 1,325 to 2,006, denoting a substantial increase of 51.4%. Consequently, the proportion of the surname Bal per 100,000 people also grew by 38.78%, from 0.49 in 2000 to 0.68 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #19,018 | #14,794 | 22.21% |
| Count | 1,325 | 2,006 | 51.4% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.49 | 0.68 | 38.78% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Bal
When looking at the ethnic identity associated with the surname Bal, the Decennial U.S. Census data indicates that there were shifts between 2000 and 2010. The most notable increase was within the Asian/Pacific Islander category, which rose from 44.91% to 54.34% - a change of 21%. Conversely, the percentage of those identifying as two or more races decreased from 7.92% to 3.69%, a drop of over 53%. Those identifying as White also saw a decrease, from 39.62% in 2000 to 34.60% in 2010, down by 12.67%. The percentage of individuals with Hispanic ethnicity slightly decreased as well, from 4.38% to 3.84%, a 12.33% change. The percentage of Black individuals or those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native remained constant at 0% during these years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 44.91% | 54.34% | 21% |
| White | 39.62% | 34.6% | -12.67% |
| Hispanic | 4.38% | 3.84% | -12.33% |
| Two or More Races | 7.92% | 3.69% | -53.41% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |