| ![Show Contents]() Belser History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England The surname Belser is generally thought to have been from Balshaw which "probably meant Bald(a)’s Wood from the Middle English shaw (e) + the Old English word scaga, a thicket, wood." 1 This is presumably one of the lost villages of England, as we can find no trace of it today. However, today Balshaw's Church of England High School is located in Leyland, Lancashire. Early Origins of the Belser familyThe surname Belser was first found in Lancashire, where they held a family seat from ancient times at Balshaw, near Lathom. 2 The record of the family was Robert de Balsagh who was listed in the Assize Rolls for 1246. Later, the same rolls recorded Robert Balshagh in 1401. 3 The Lay Subsidy Rolls for Lancashire included: Adam de Balshagh; and John de Balshagh as both holding lands there in 1332. Early History of the Belser familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Belser research. Another 202 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1246, 1258, 1265, 1332, 1401, 1512, 1522, 1608, 1622 and 1628 are included under the topic Early Belser History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Belser Spelling VariationsIt is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Belser are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Belser include: Balshaw, Balshawe, Ballshaw, Balsagh, Balshagh, Balshay and many more. Early Notables of the Belser familyMore information is included under the topic Early Belser Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Belser RankingIn the United States, the name Belser is the 14,413rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4
 Belser migration to the United States | + |
Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Belser or a variant listed above:
Belser Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Karl Friedrich Belser, who arrived in Ohio in 1869 5
| Contemporary Notables of the name Belser (post 1700) | + |
- James Burkey Belser (1947-2023), American graphic designer. He is known for his design of the Nutrition Facts label, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandated food labeling system
- Caesar Edward Belser (1944-2016), American AFL and NFL football linebacker and safety
- James Edwin Belser (1805-1859), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Alabama State House of Representatives, 1828, 1853, 1857; U.S. Representative from Alabama 2nd District, 1843-45
- Mrs. Irvine F. Belser, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from South Carolina, 1952
- William Belser Spong Jr. (1920-1997), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Virginia State House of Delegates, 1954-55; Member of Virginia State Senate, 1956-66; U.S. Senator from Virginia, 1966-73; Defeated, 1972 6
| Historic Events for the Belser family | + |
- Mrs. Katherine Belser (d. 1914), Irish Third Class Passenger from Belfast, Ireland who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 7
- Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- 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)
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
- Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
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Belser migration to the United States 
