Explore the Family Name Balk
The meaning of Balk
1. German: from a pet form of a Slavic equivalent of the personal name Valentinus (see Valentine). 2. Dutch and German: from balk, balke ‘timber, beam’, hence a metonymic occupational name for a carpenter or a nickname for a big man. 3. English (Yorkshire): variant of Baulk, from Middle English balke ‘ridge or bank created by plowing’ (Old English balca), or a habitational name from a place called with this word, for example Balk near Thirsk in the North Yorkshire.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Balk in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname "Balk" has seen a significant increase in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 12,634 in terms of commonality, but by 2010, it had jumped to 9,991—a noteworthy increase of nearly 21%. Additionally, the total count of individuals with this surname increased from 2,248 to 3,228 during that same period, representing an increase of almost 44%. This data suggests that the proportion of individuals with the surname "Balk" per 100,000 people has grown by approximately 31%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #12,634 | #9,991 | 20.92% |
| Count | 2,248 | 3,228 | 43.59% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.83 | 1.09 | 31.33% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Balk
The ethnic identity linked to the surname "Balk" also witnessed considerable changes over the decade as per the Decennial U.S. Census data. The highest change was seen among those who identify as Asian/Pacific Islander and those identifying with two or more races. The former grew from 15.21% in 2000 to 28.78% in 2010—an impressive increase of 89.22%. Meanwhile, those identifying with two or more races rose from 0.49% to 1.49%, marking a change of over 204%. However, the number of individuals identifying as White decreased from 82.16% to 66.64%. Those identifying as Hispanic saw a moderate increase of around 51%. The percentage of those identifying as Black, American Indian, and Alaskan Native remained the same, with the data being suppressed for privacy reasons.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 82.16% | 66.64% | -18.89% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 15.21% | 28.78% | 89.22% |
| Hispanic | 1.56% | 2.35% | 50.64% |
| Two or More Races | 0.49% | 1.49% | 204.08% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |