The word "surname" from Latin is translated as "family", but it did not always have the modern meaning of "family" or "name of the genus." Initially, this was the name of a group of slaves that belonged to one owner, and only in the Middle Ages people began to be called by family names.
This is a name that indicates belonging to a particular family, clan, dynasty. In ancient times, not everyone had surnames, as a rule, nicknames or the names of their ancestors were used instead. But in the Middle Ages, it became necessary to inherit not only land plots and property, but also social status and generic naming.
The centuries-old history of mankind holds many family names. The history of the origin of each of them is interesting, unique and inimitable. The origin of the surnames is associated with the regions where our ancestors lived, their professions, everyday life, traditions, customs, customs, and characteristic features of appearance or temper.
This article will discuss the origin, history and origin of the name Balashov. You should run ahead and immediately make a reservation that this ancestral name was given to the ancestor as not baptismal, that is, the second, it had a nickname basis, which later became a generic name.
Surname Balashov: meaning, origin and history
The generic name Balashov belongs to the number of ancient names. Information about him dates back to the XVII century. There are several versions of the origin of the name Balashov.
It is believed that this name of the genus is formed from the Tatar name Balash, widespread in ancient times, which is translated from Turkic as “child”. This nickname appeared on the territory of the settlement of the Slavs after the Tatar-Mongol invasion. In the middle of the XVII century, near Rostov, according to written sources, Balash Fedka, a terrible and fierce robber, lived. It is likely that such a nickname was given since childhood to the ancestor who founded the clan, and then became the property of the whole family and was assigned to it for centuries.
Generic Name Occurrence Versions
There is a version that the origin of the name Balashov is associated with a geographical name. In the old days, the Slavs had a tradition to name wealthy families in honor of the name of tribal possessions. It was they who first of all had the need to inherit their titles and names, which would indicate belonging to a noble family. The names of the properties were fully suitable for the name of the entire family. So, the name of the city of Balashov could serve as the basis for the surname. Over time, not only the owner of the name, but also a native of these places could well be called the nickname Balashov.
No less interesting is the version of the origin of the name Balashov, according to which the so-called person was formed by the nickname of the Turkic word "balas" translated as "gem". That is, they could have nicknamed a man who was engaged in the extraction of gems.
Northern version of the formation of the surname
In Pomeranian dialect there is the word "balakshi", which translates as "eyes". It is possible that a very sharp-sighted person could be called a Balash, over time this nickname was fixed to the descendants as the name of the whole family. For example, in 1672, Ondryushko Balash, a well-aimed marksman, lived on the Astrakhan lands.
In Solvychegodsky uyezd, “small whales” were called small white fish. That is, “belash” could mean “white” and, most likely, the name referred to the appearance: hair color, face, and so on.
The origin of the name Balashov: meaning and prevalence. Toponymic version
In the Saratov region is the city of Balashov, whose inhabitants are called "Balashov". Most likely, natives of it in ancient times could receive a nickname, which later became a generic name.
It should be noted that the name Balashov is not common. In ancient records, namesakes were important persons - representatives of this clan name are referred to as immigrants from the Kiev bourgeoisie, they had a great royal privilege. Ancient references to the generic name can be found in the census conducted in Kievan Rus during the reign of Ivan the Terrible. The Great Sovereign kept a special register of consonant, pleasant to hearing and melodic surnames, which he bestowed upon those close to him for special merits. That is why this generic naming has retained its primary meaning and is rare.