Baleard History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Baleard is an ancient Anglo-Saxon name. It was a name given to a person who was a person known for their lack of hair. As a point of interest, the name is derived from the Old English word ball-ard, which means a bald headed man. 1

Another source claims the name was Celtic or Gaelic in origin "from Ball, a place, a round elevation; and ard, high. The Gaelic word Ballart signifies noisy, boasting. Bal also signifies a lord, and ard, high." 2 Yet another source claims the name was "an ancient baptismal name, Balard." 3

Early Origins of the Baleard family

The surname Baleard was first found in various counties and shire of England. Various sources claim different first records of the family. "Ballard is another old Kent name. The Ballards owned Sapinton manor from the time of Henry IV. until that of Philip and Mary. Robert Ballard, butler of Richard II., received from his Sovereign the manor of West Combe. In the reign of Henry VI., Thomas Ballard, of Horton Parva, was one of the sheriffs of Kent." 4

Early English rolls provide us a glimpse of the spelling variations used through Medieval times. The Curia Regis Rolls of 1196 listed Peter Ballard as holding lands in Northumberland at that time and later Adam Ballard holding lands in Cambridgeshire in 1210. Eluding to aforementioned "bald head" nickname, we found Robert Balheved in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1316 and later, Thomas Balhefd in Suffolk in 1402. 5

The source Kirby's Quest notes that that during the time of Edward III, Richard Balleheved and Petrr Ballard were listed in Somerset. 6 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list: Alurell Balard in Essex; Dreu Ballard in Huntingdonshire; and Thomas Ballard in Somerset. 1

Early History of the Baleard family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Baleard research. Another 76 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1379, 1489, 1586, 1615, 1630, 1634, 1651, 1653, 1654, 1657, 1680, 1682, 1689 and 1710 are included under the topic Early Baleard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Baleard Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Baleard has appeared include Ballard, Bellard, Bellhird, Belhyrd, Bellerd, Bellird, Belard, Balard, Ballird and many more.

Early Notables of the Baleard family

Distinguished members of the family include John Ballard (d. 1586), English Roman Catholic priest who owes his fame solely to his connection with the Babington conspiracy; Colonel Thomas Ballard (1630-1689) English-born, early American colonial Virginia landowner and politician, Speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses 1680-1682; and his son, Colonel...
Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Baleard Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Baleard family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Baleard arrived in North America very early: Mary Ballord, who arrived in Boston in 1635; William Ballord, who came to Boston in 1635; Hester Ballord, who arrived in Boston in 1635; Elizabeth Ballord, who arrived in Lynn, MA in 1635.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.