Balcer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Of all the Anglo-Saxon names to come from Britain, Balcer is one of the most ancient. The name is a result of the original family having lived in Hertfordshire. The name was taken from the market town of Baldock in Hertfordshire. This place name is of an unusual Arabic derivation. The town was named by the Knights Templar, who held a manor in the area in the 12th century, after the city of Baghdad, which was spelled Baldac in Old English. It means the city of Dat.

Early Origins of the Balcer family

The surname Balcer was first found in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.

One of the first records of the family was Ralph de Baldock (d. 1313), "Bishop of London and Lord Chancellor, whose early history is unknown, first appears in 1271 as holding the prebendal stall of Holborn, in which Robert Burnel, Edward I's great chancellor, had preceded him. Robert de Baldock (d. 1327), was Lord Chancellor, [and] first appears in the records as obtaining a grant of the royal rights over a manor in Surrey in 1287." 1

Early History of the Balcer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Balcer research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1307, 1327, 1500, 1624 and 1691 are included under the topic Early Balcer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Balcer Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Balcer has been spelled many different ways, including Baldock, Balldock, Balldcock, Baldcock and others.

Early Notables of the Balcer family

Distinguished members of the family include Sir Robert Baldock (c.1624-1691), an English judge who claimed descent from Robert de Baldock, Lord Chancellor in Essex during King Edward's reign...
Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Balcer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Balcer family

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Balcers to arrive in North America: Dasey Baldock, who came to Virginia in 1638; Sarah Baldock, who arrived in Maryland in 1774; Richard Baldock, who settled in Rappahannock Virginia in 1747.

Contemporary Notables of the name Balcer (post 1700) +

Frank J. Balcer Sr. (1896-1992), American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives from Tuscola County, 1958, 1960 2
Frank Adelbert Balcer Jr. (1889-1965), American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Michigan State Constitutional Convention from Wayne County 8th District, 1961-62 2
Floyd Balcer, American politician, Candidate for Michigan State Senate 16th District, 1932 2

Citations +

Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 3) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html