| ![Show Contents]() Bahls History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Germany The Bahls family name first began to be used in the German state of Bavaria. After the 12th century, hereditary surnames were adopted according to fairly general rules, and names that were derived from locations became particularly common. The family name Bahls is a local surname. Originally denoting the proprietorship of an estate or influence within a village, the German preposition von, which means from or of, used with local names, was taken as a mark of aristocracy. The surname Bahls was given to someone who lived in the village of Balbach in Franconia. Originally, the bearers of this surname were concentrated in Franconia and Bavaria, however, the Bahls family rapidly expanded into other parts of Germany, branching into numerous autonomous houses. Early Origins of the Bahls familyThe surname Bahls was first found in Franconia, where the name became noted for its many branches with the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied by the princes of the region. In their later history the family became a power unto themselves and were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they grew into a most influential family. The family name may derive from, or have lent itself to, the village of Balbach in Franconia. Early History of the Bahls familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bahls research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1694 is included under the topic Early Bahls History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Bahls Spelling VariationsIn the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Bahls include Balbach, Balback, Ballbach, Balbache, Ballbache, Bahlbach and many more. Early Notables of the Bahls familyMore information is included under the topic Early Bahls Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
 Bahls migration to the United States | + |
The great European flow of migration to North America, which began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century, was particularly attractive to those from Bavaria who wished to escape either poverty or religious persecution. For many Bavarian tenant farmers, the chance to own their own land was a major incentive. So the widespread colonization of the United States began in 1650, when many immigrants from Germany settled in pockets in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. In Canada, German settlement centered in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Among those of this surname listed in various historical records were:
Bahls Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- William Bahls, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1871 1
| Contemporary Notables of the name Bahls (post 1700) | + |
- Richard J. Bahls, American Republican politician, Member of Michigan Republican State Central Committee, 1957-59
- Alice Bahls, American Republican politician, Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1976; Member of Michigan Republican State Central Committee, 1979
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
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Bahls migration to the United States 
