Balog

Recorded in a variety of spellings including: Balog, Balogh, Balogun and Balogus, this is name which is of Hungarian medieval origins, although now found in most parts of Europe. It derives from the ancient pre 7th century word 'balog' meaning left handed, and in the wicked way of nicknames is meant to describe a person who was clumsy or different from the rest. 'Nicknames' were a fashion in all countries of Europe around the 10th to the 12th centuries, and in a way they foreshadowed the later surnames by creating a clear identification for an individual. Prior to the Middle Ages people who were not land owners or town dwellers, were tied like slaves to the land, but as time passed most of these feudal bonds were broken. With the coming of personal taxation and the middle classes, "identification" came to be a necessity which developed the surname requirement. In most countries of Europe hereditary surnames were in place by the 17th century, although as early as the 13th century in England and Scotland. In this case early examples of the surname recording include: Petrus Balogh, the son of Michaelis Balogh, christened at St Bertalans church, Gyongyos, Heves, Hungary, on July 11th 1669, and Paulum Balog, the son of Laurentio Balog, christened at the same place, on January 24th 1732.