Surname Ballagh - Meaning and Origin
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Ballagh: What does the surname Ballagh mean?
The last name Ballagh is a Gaelic surname which originated in Ireland. It is derived from the Irish word "béal", meaning a "mouth or a pass" and "áth" which translates to a "ford or crossing place". This suggests that the original family who bore the Ballagh name may have lived near a ford at the mouth of a river.
The Ballagh name has been extensively documented in various historical records in Ireland for well over a thousand years. It is believed that the family history of Ballaghs dates back to an ancestor called Cu chuillean, who lived in the 8th century AD. During the Elizabethan era, the Ballaghs were recorded in the Barony of Lower Talbotstown in County Wicklow in the southeastern region of Ireland. In 1659, there is a mention of a Thomas Ballagh in the Hearth Money Roll of County Wicklow.
The Ballaghs remained prominent during the 18th and 19th centuries and were active in the Irish patriots’ fight for independence from English rule. During the 1920s, the Ballagh surname had become more widespread throughout Ireland, particularly in Dublin, Wexford, and Tipperary.
The Ballagh surname is most commonly of Irish descent and is steeped in the rich culture and traditions of the Emerald Isles. It is a meaningful and powerful name, with its deep roots in Irish history and culture.
Order DNA origin analysisBallagh: Where does the name Ballagh come from?
The last name Ballagh is found in many countries around the world today, but primarily in English-speaking countries. In Ireland, it is among the 40 most common surnames, with an estimated 11,000 people bearing the name. In England, its usage is lower at around 1,500; however, it has undergone significant regional concentration in recent times, and is found most commonly in Derbyshire, Sussex, Staffordshire and parts of Yorkshire.
In the United States, the last name is present in most states, but is still relatively uncommon, making up just 0.002% of the population. Its highest concentrations are in the states of Florida, California, Georgia and Virginia. Its usage in Canada is lower still, at around 0.001% of the population, but the last name Ballagh is still found. The majority of those with the last name are concentrated in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. As of 2018, there were an estimated 400-1,000 people in Canada, using the name, primarily in Ontario and Quebec.
The last name Ballagh has also been adopted by peoples in other parts of the world, including Australia, where it is still relatively uncommon, but found in small pockets of the country. There are also small numbers of people with the last name in other countries such as South Africa, India, and Indonesia.
Variations of the surname Ballagh
The surname Ballagh originates from Gaelic and Old Irish words, meaning “plain” or “plain piece of land”. This surname has been used in Ireland for many centuries.
Variants of this surname include Bally, Ball, Baul, Balley, Ballyh, Balla, Ballys, and Balli. Spellings of Ballagh include Ballagh, Baallagh, Baillagh, Balla, Baille, Bail, Balligh, Balloch, Ballouch, and Ballow.
Variant and spelling surnames of the same origin are O’Bally, MacBally, MacBallyh, MacBaille, Baleygh, O’Baly, MacBaileigh, O’Balla, McBally, Ballyeigh, McBallygh, and McBaillauch.
The variants and spellings of Ballagh may have been used by different branches of the same family, or may mark different spelling or regional differences. This surname could be found with Sheehy, Murray, and Llewellyn among other Irish families. Furthermore these surname derivatives are very common in both Ireland and Scotland.
The variants and spellings of Ballagh imply the family members originally lived in a plain or “bally”, which may explain why the surnames change from region to region as the family moved. As a result, it is possible they might have belonged to the same family or bloodline. It is also possible that the variants and spellings of the same surname all derived from the same root word.
Famous people with the name Ballagh
- John Ballagh: A former American football coach.
- Eric Ballagh: An Irish musician who plays traditional Irish folk music.
- Jenna Ballagh: An American actress.
- Joseph Ballagh: A British lithographer and watercolor painter.
- Marian Ballagh: An Australian underwater and aerial photographer.
- Christopher Ballagh: An English author and humorist.
- James Ballagh: A leading American Civil War historian.
- Christine Ballagh: An American fashion designer.
- Shelley Ballagh: An Australian musician.
- William Ballagh: A British-born American maritime artist.