Ball History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  France 
  Ireland 


The ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of England produced the name of Ball. It was given to a person who was bald deriving its origin from the Old English word Bealla, which meant bald. The surname may also refer to someone who had a rotund or stocky stature. 1

While many researchers share this same "nickname" origin of the name, Henry Brougham Guppy in 1890, wrote "The idea that these names originated from bald - headed ancestors is, I think, absurd. Camden, in his remarks on surnames, written some 300 years ago, informs us that Baul and Bald were then nicknames or nursenames for Baldwin, and it was evidently from this source that Mr. Lower borrowed the suggestion that Ball was a nickname of Baldwin." 2

Early Origins of the Ball family

The surname Ball was first found in the "west side of England, being at present most numerous in Lancashire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Gloucestershire. This surname must be distinguished in its distribution from Balls, which is restricted to the opposite or east side of England, in the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. It is remarkable that after the lapse of six centuries Balls remains doggedly in the same part of England, whilst Ball and Baldwin seem to have extended their areas westward. In Norfolk three centuries ago Balls was sometimes spelt Balles or Ballis. " 2

The earliest record of the family was found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 which reflected the scattered occurrences of the family and early spellings recorded: Custance Balde, Cambridgeshire; Richard Bald, Oxfordshire; John Balle, Norfolk; and Albred Balle, Huntingdonshire. 1

Kirby's Quest had several entries: John Balde, Somerset, 1 Edward III (recorded during the first year's reign of Edward III.) John atte Balle, Somerset, 1 Edward III; and Henry atte Balle, Somerset, 1 Edward III. 3

John Ball (d. 1381), was an early English priest, who provoked the insurrection of Wat Tyler. As a result of his actions, he was "brought before the king at St. Albans, where he was sentenced to be hanged, drawn, and quartered as a traitor. The sentence seems to have been promptly carried out, and the king himself witnessed its execution at St. Albans on 15 July. " 4

Early History of the Ball family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ball research. Another 161 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1381, 1530, 1553, 1585, 1590, 1623, 1626, 1631, 1637, 1640, 1659, 1664, 1665, 1675, 1680, 1681, 1690, 1745, 1887, 1890 and 1992 are included under the topic Early Ball History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ball 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 Ball has appeared include Ball, Balle, Balls, Balders and others.

Early Notables of the Ball family

Notables of the family at this time include

Ball World Ranking

In the United States, the name Ball is the 320th most popular surname with an estimated 84,558 people with that name. 5 However, in Canada, the name Ball is ranked the 484th most popular surname with an estimated 10,023 people with that name. 6 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Ball is the 302nd popular surname with an estimated 150 people with that name. 7 France ranks Ball as 6,104th with 1,000 - 1,500 people. 8 Australia ranks Ball as 297th with 11,906 people. 9 New Zealand ranks Ball as 299th with 2,031 people. 10 The United Kingdom ranks Ball as 134th with 37,504 people. 11

Migration of the Ball family to Ireland

Some of the Ball family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 181 words (13 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Ball migration to the United States +

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 Ball arrived in North America very early:

Ball Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Ball Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Ball Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Ball Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Ball migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ball Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Ball Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
Ball Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Ball migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Ball Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
Ball Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Ball migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Ball Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Ball migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 22
Ball Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Ball (post 1700) +


The Ball Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Fulcrum dignitatis virtus
Motto Translation: Virtue is the support of dignity


Suggested Readings for the name Ball +
Fastest Delivery Possible

Digital Products on Checkout, all other products filled in 1 business day

Money Back Guarantee

Yes, all products 100% Guraranteed

BBB A+ Rating

The Best Rating possible

Secure Online Payment

Entire site uses SSL / Secure Certificate