| ![Show Contents]() Balens History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
England
Etymology of BalensWhat does the name Balens mean? Balens is a name that was brought to England by the ancestors of the Balens family when they migrated to the region after the Norman Conquest in 1066. The Balens family lived in Cornwall. The family originated from the region around the fortress of Balon near Le Mans in France, and the name was carried to England by Hamelin de Balon during the Norman Conquest of England. 1 Early Origins of the Balens familyThe surname Balens was first found in Cornwall, where they held a family seat from the 11th century. The family originated from the region around the fortress of Balon near Le Mans in France and the name was carried to England by Hamelin de Balon during the Norman Conquest. John de Baalun or Balun (d. 1235), was justice itinerant, "a Baron who possessed estates in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and Wiltshire, and was descended from one Hameline de Baalun (c. 1060-1105), who came over with the Conqueror, built the castle of Abergavenny and rose to become 1st Baron of Abergavenny. His brother, Wynebald de Ballon (variously spelt Baalun, Baalan, Balun, Balodun, Balon etc.),(c.1058-c.1126), was an early Norman magnate who was found in England during the reign of William Rufus. In 1207 John de Balun paid a fine for the lands of Hameline, on behalf of his father, to Geoffrey Fitz-Ace and Agnes, his wife. In the 12th year of King John's reign (1210-1211), Balun accompanied the king to Ireland, but at the end of John's reign lost his lands for taking part in the barons' attack upon the king. " 2 Early History of the Balens familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Balens research. Another 287 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1090, 1224, 1273, 1275, 1297, 1327 and 1500 are included under the topic Early Balens History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Balens Spelling VariationsSpelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Balens have been found, including Balleine, Ballin, Ballon, Balon, Balun, Baalun, Ballom, Balin, Ballen and many more. Early Notables of the Balens familyMore information is included under the topic Early Balens Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Balens familyFor many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Balens were among those contributors: Susan Ballin who arrived in Barbados in 1654.
- The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
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