Baillard History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
France

The name Baillard is a Norman name that is a part of the ancient legacy of the Medieval France. The proud name of Baillard was originally used as a nickname for a bald person. 1 The surname Baillard is derived from the Old Norse word "bolle", and the Old English word "ballede", both meaning "ball". It was used as a reference to something round and smooth.

Alternatively, the name could have been an occupational name as a "baillard" is a "piece of wood to carry the wool that is drawn from the water, and which crosses the boiler to be degreased." 2

Early Origins of the Baillard family

The surname Baillard was first found in Normandy (French: Normandie), the former Duchy of Normandy, where the family established itself in ancient times.

The family can be traced back to Roger Baillard, who paid homage to the priest at Mont Saint-Michel in 1154. Some members of this ancient and illustrious family also branched into other regions of France. 3

According to historic documents, the family was registered in Tours, in 1262. In Burgundy, the family settled in De Bargon, a town in the department of Côte-d'Or, in the district of Dijon. In the 16th century, one branch was formed in Loudigny, in Angoumois.

For nearly 200 years, the Ballard family of printers "virtually enjoyed the monopoly of printing music in France. The first patent was granted to Robert Ballard by Henri II in 1552, and he and his son-in law Adrien Leroy printed many tablatures for the lute and other music. They were followed by Pierre, and he again by his son Robert, under whom the house rose to its greatest height both in privileges and position." 4

Early History of the Baillard family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Baillard research. Another 65 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1696, 1759, 1806 and 1891 are included under the topic Early Baillard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Baillard Spelling Variations

There were a great number of spelling variations in French surnames. One reason for this was the wide variety of cultural influences present in France during the early development of the French language. The many spelling variations of the name include Baillargeon, Baillergeon, Baillarger, Baillerger, Baillarget, Baillerget, Baillargean, Baillergean, Baillerg, Baillargé, Baillard, Baillardel, Baillart and many more.

Early Notables of the Baillard family

Notable amongst the family in this period was

Pierre Baillardel de Lareinty, one of the organizers of the colonies in the West Indies and a militia officer of the Windward Islands, who became a knight of Saint Louis in 1759

Baillard Ranking

In France, the name Baillard is the 4,543^rd most popular surname with an estimated 1,500 - 2,000 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Baillard family

Migration from France to New France or Quebec as it was now more popularly called, continued from France until it fell in 1759. By 1675, there were 7000 French in Quebec. By the same year the Acadian presence in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island had reached 500. In the treaty of Utrecht, the Acadians were ceded by France to Britain in 1713. In 1755, 10,000 French Acadians refused to take an oath of allegiance to England and were deported. They found refuge in Louisiana. In 1793, the remaining French in these provinces came under British rule. Meanwhile, in Quebec, the French race flourished, founding in Lower Canada, one of the two great solitudes which became Canada. Many of this distinguished family name Baillard were prominent in social, cultural, religious and political affairs in France and New France. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Baillard were the branch Baillargeon, which was established in Canada through Jean, born in 1612 and married in 1659 in Quebec. He was the ancestor of a great archbishop of Quebec. Jacob Baillargeau settled in New York in 1701.

Contemporary Notables of the name Baillard (post 1700) +

Géraldine Baillard (b. 1973), French (Martinique) artist

Citations +

Dauzat, Albert, Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionaire Étymologique des Noms et Prénoms de France. Paris: Librairie Larousse, 1987. Print.
Dionne, N.-E., Les Canadiens-Francais Origine Des Familles. Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 1969. Print
Hozier, Charles D, and Antoine Bachelin-Delforenne. État présent De La Noblesse française (1883-1887): Contenant Le Distionnaire De La Noblesse Contemporaine Et Larmorial général De France, Dapres Les Manuscrits De Ch. D Hozier. Librairie Des Bibliophiles, 1884. Print.
Grove, Sir George, A Dictionary of Music and Musicians (AD. 1450-1889) London: Macmillan1902, Print, 2 Vols
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/