Explore the Family Name Ballam
The meaning of Ballam
English (Dorset): variant of Balaam (assimilated by folk etymology to the Biblical personal name Balaam, see Numbers 23–4), which is a habitational name from Baylham in Suffolk or a Norman surname derived from Ballon in Le Mans, Sarthe, France (compare Ballon). The surname may also be a variant of English Balham, perhaps from Balham in Streatham, Surrey, named with Old English bealg ‘smooth’ or ‘round’ + hamm ‘water meadow, land hemmed in by water’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Ballam in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Ballam has seen a decrease between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it held the rank of 70,052, which dropped to 80,419 in 2010 -- a decline of 14.8%. The number of individuals with this surname also decreased during this period from 261 to 236, a reduction of approximately 9.58%. The proportion of people named Ballam per 100,000 also saw a decline of 20%, from 0.1 to 0.08.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #70,052 | #80,419 | -14.8% |
| Count | 261 | 236 | -9.58% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.1 | 0.08 | -20% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Ballam
The data from the Decennial U.S. Census also provides insight into the ethnic identity associated with the Ballam surname. From 2000 to 2010, there was minor fluctuation in the percentage distribution across different ethnicities. The majority of Ballams identified as White, which represented 89.66% in 2000 and increased slightly to 89.83% in 2010. Those identifying as Asian or Pacific Islander made up 4.98% in 2000, dropping slightly to 4.66% in 2010. The Hispanic representation also decreased from 2.68% to 2.12%. Notably, the percentage of Ballams claiming two or more races rose from 0% to 2.54%, while there were no identifiable Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native ethnicity bearers of the Ballam surname recorded for either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 89.66% | 89.83% | 0.19% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 4.98% | 4.66% | -6.43% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 2.54% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 2.68% | 2.12% | -20.9% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |