surname balch meaning
1 Welsh: from the adjective balch, which has a range of meaningsââfineâ, âsplendidâ, âproudâ, âarrogantâ, âgladââbut the predominant meaning is âproudâ and from this the family name probably derives. 2  The surname Balch was established in MD c. 1650. English: nickname from Middle English balche, belche âswellingâ (Old English baelc(bÃ¦lc)). 2  E this was probably chiefly given in the âsense swellingâ, âpride overweeningâ, arrogance but it can also âmeanâ, âeructationâ belch and may therefore in some cases have been acquired by a man given to.  belching