Surname Blalock - Meaning and Origin
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Blalock: What does the surname Blalock mean?
The surname Blalock is of English origin and is reported to be a variant of the surname Bullock. It is believed to have originated in the county of Durham in the North East of England during the 16th and 17th centuries. It is suggested that the name 'Bullock' derives from the Olde English pre-7th century personal name 'Bula' with the addition of the diminutive suffix of '-ock' translating to 'little Bula or Bul'. It is sometimes seen as 'Bullick', and the more distant 'Blalock'.
Although the Blalock surname has no direct meaning, it is thought to have historical references to notable people or places from which its particular spelling was derived. During the medieval and early modern period, surnames were formed by adding a 'did-suffix', which was an indicator of the ancestor's ancestors or a feature of the landscape. It is for this reason that spelling variants of the same surname exist.
The Blalocks, or Bullocks, were among the early settlers of North Carolina and many migrated further during times of hardship and to explore new opportunities in the New World and across the America's. During the 19th and 20th centuries, some members of the Blalock family became prominent members in their respective communities and are remembered for their notable contributions in industry, agriculture and politics.
Today, the Blalock surname is shared by people from all walks of life, many of whom have family surnames from both Olde England and across the pond in the United States of America. They remember their shared origins with pride and are proud of their family histories.
Order DNA origin analysisBlalock: Where does the name Blalock come from?
The last name Blalock is distributed throughout the United States, although it is concentrated in parts of the Southeast. Specifically, the states with the highest concentration of Blalock families are Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. It is the 386th most popular last name in the U.S.
The Blalock surname originated in Scotland, likely as a patronymic name derived from the given name "Blaike," and was first seen in England in the early 12th century. Blalock was a major immigration family from the British Isles, arriving in the American Colonies in the late 1700s and early 1800s, when Scots-Irish Scots and English settlers arrived in search of a new future.
Many of the original Blalocks settled in areas of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Mississippi. Others followed the Great Wagon Road to the states west of the Appalachian Mountains, which includes Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Texas.
The Blalock family name is also well represented in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In the 21st century, Blalock is mostly found in the Southeastern U.S., although it can still be found in pockets across the country.
Variations of the surname Blalock
The surname Blalock is believed to have originated from the Isle of Man of West-Celtic or Gaelic heritage. The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin as Blalock include:
Blalock or Blalok (Anglo-Saxon).
This traditional English form of the surname dates back to the Middle Ages and is derived from the Old English words "bl {English: Blue} and "lok" (English: Lock), meaning "blue-headed locks". It was used to describe a person who had blue hair. This surname is also spelled variously as Blaloke, Blalocke, Blalok, Blelock, and Blaylock. Throughout the Middle Ages and beyond, the Blalocks were prominent in Saxon communities.
Bollock (Irish):
The Irish variant of Blalock is Bollock, which is derived from the Old Gaelic name "O'Bealamhain". This name is thought to have originally derived from the old Irish word "bealach" which translates to pass, lane, or street. The Bollock family historically hails from the south of Ireland and the Isle of Man and has produced numerous branches in England, Scotland, and Ireland. It is also spelled Bollowock, Bowlock, and Balock.
Beallock (Scottish):
This Scottish variant of Blalock is derived from the Scottish Gaelic name "Mac Giolla Bhálait" and translates to "son of the devotee of Saint Balach". This surname has been popular over the centuries in the Scottish Highlands and is also spelled as Bellock, Beylok, Beyllock, Bellocke, and Biel.
Blaylock (American):
This American variant of Blalock is thought to be derived from the name Balawk, which is itself tied to the English surname Blelock. Initially, the Blaylock spelling was used in the mid-19th century when English and Irish immigrants migrated to the United States. This surname can also be spelled as Blaylok, Blaylocke, and Blelock.
No matter the variation in spelling, the surnames Blalock, Bollock, Beallock, and Blaylock all share the same origins and refer to the same family.
Famous people with the name Blalock
- Jennifer Blalock: American actress
- Thad Blalock: Major League Baseball outfielder
- Skip Blalock: favorite minor league baseball player
- Janny Blalock: retired professional golfer
- Troy Blalock: two-time champion of the Nationwide Series
- Evan Blalock: First State bank president
- Steve Blalock: former Republican member of the Georgia House of Representatives
- Jenny Blalock: professional studio photographer
- Harry Blalock: former military hospital commander in Alabama
- Bobby Blalock: player for the NFL’s Washington Redskins