Explore the Family Name Balaam
The meaning of Balaam
English: 1. habitational name from Baylham (Suffolk), The form of the surname has been assimilated by folk etymology to the Biblical personal name Balaam (Numbers 23–4). The placename is actually from Old English bēgel ‘bend’ + hamm ‘land in a river-bend, riverside meadow’ or hām ‘estate’. 2. (of Norman origin): habitational name from Ballon in Le Mans (Sarthe, France.) The Norman family called de Ballon had lands and interests in south Wales, Cornwall, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Balaam in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Balaam experienced a slight increase in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 94,676 and by 2010, it had risen to rank 94,311. This represents a change of approximately 0.39%. The count of individuals with this surname also increased during this decade, from 179 to 194, a growth rate of about 8.38%. However, its proportion per 100,000 people remained consistent at 0.07%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #94,676 | #94,311 | 0.39% |
| Count | 179 | 194 | 8.38% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Balaam
Analyzing the ethnicity data gathered from the Decennial U.S. Census, we see that the majority of individuals with the surname Balaam identify as White, with a barely noticeable increase from 65.92% in 2000 to 65.98% in 2010. The next largest ethnic group is Black, although their representation decreased slightly from 30.17% in 2000 to 28.35% in 2010. The percentage of those identifying as Hispanic rose from 2.79% to 3.09%, a change of about 10.75%. There were no reported instances of individuals with this surname identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native during these years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 65.92% | 65.98% | 0.09% |
| Black | 30.17% | 28.35% | -6.03% |
| Hispanic | 2.79% | 3.09% | 10.75% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |