Baler is a name that was carried to England in the great wave of migration from Normandy following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Baler family lived in Lancashire. The name, however, is a reference to the family's former residence in Boulard, in Calvados, in Normandy. [1]
Alternatively, the name could have been an occupational name for a "bowl-maker," someone who made bowls. [2]
The surname Baler was first found in Lancashire. They were originally from Boulard in Calvados, Normandy, and arrived in England with Duke William of Normandy at the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.
Stephen de Boularia in 1096, witnessed a charter of Manasses, Bishop of Cambrai, and joined in the first Crusade. Baldwin de Bollers, his son, received from Henry I the barony of Montgomery, with the hand of Sybil de Falaise, his niece. [1]
"It was this Baldwin, the first castellan of Montgomery, who gave the town its Welsh name of Tre Faldwin, the town of Baldwin. 'In the year 1121, as Baldwin de Boilers, he affixed his signature and attestation to Henry I.'s great Charter to Shrewsbury Abbey.' He was a second time married, and left children by each of his wives ; but the succession is shrouded in mystery." [3]
Hen Domen, (Welsh: "old mound") , a medieval timber motte-and-bailey castle in Powys, Wales was the home of the de Boulers (Bowdler) family and was founded by Baldwin de Boulers. [1] Today, a permanent exhibition can be found on the site.
The Feet of Fines for Somerset included a listing for John le Bouller in 1316 and later in Staffordshire, Robert le Bollere was listed there in the Subsidy Rolls for 1332. [4]
The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included John le Bolur, Oxfordshire; and Stephen le Bolur, Surrey. [5]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Baler research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1459, 1437, 1450, 1450, 1453, 1453, 1459, 1320, 1587, 1659, 1911, 1865, 1710 and 1726 are included under the topic Early Baler History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Baler include Bowler, Boler, Boaler and others.
Another 27 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Baler Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Some of the Baler family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 271 words (19 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Balers to arrive on North American shores: