Ball

Ball is an English surname that has multiple potential origins, as do many short surnames: one origin suggests that Ball is a shortened form, a "favorite contraction", of the given name Baldwin, dating "from Norman times" another purported origin is related to living near a "knoll or rounded hill" the surname may also descend from the Old Norse personal name "Balle" it could be a toponymic surname, related to Ball, Cornwall, England According to Bowman, Ball and related names had only "limited application as personal names and that generally they have come into existence as nicknames." List of people with the surname Arts and music see Writing and education below for writers Alan Ball (screenwriter) (born 1957) Angeline Ball (born 1969), actor Ashleigh Ball (voice actress) (born 1983), Canadian voice actor and musician Christopher Ball (1936–2022), British composer David Ball (electronic musician) (born 1959), English electronic musician (usually known as Dave), member of Soft Cell, The Grid David Ball (country singer) (born 1953), American country singer Dave Ball (guitarist) (1950–2015), guitarist formerly of Procol Harum, Bedlam, Long John Baldry, etc. Dave "Taif" Ball, British bass guitarist with metal bands Killing Joke and Voodoocult Ed Ball (musician) (born 1959), English singer-songwriter, musician and businessman Estil C. Ball (1913—1978), American folk musician F. Carlton Ball (1911–1992), American multidisciplinary artist and teacher John Ball (musician) (born 1990), American Christian musician Kenny Ball (1930–2013), English jazz musician Kirshnik Ball (1994-2022), American rapper known professionally as Takeoff (name is also written as "Kirsnick" as, for example, in ASCAP's repertory) Lucille Ball (1911–1989), American comedian and actor Marcia Ball (born 1949), American blues singer and pianist Martin Ball (born 1964), English actor Martin J. Ball (born 1951), Welsh professor Matthew Ball (born 1993), English ballet dancer Michael Ball (singer) (born 1962), English actor and singer Roger Ball (designer), industrial designer Nicholas Ball (actor) (born 1946), English actor Robert Ball (artist) (1918–2008), British artist Bobby Ball (1944–2020), English comedian Thomas Ball (artist) (1819–1911), American sculptor Walter Ball (cartoonist) (1911–1995) Wilfrid Ball (1853–1917), British painter William Ball (stage director), American stage director (1931–1991) Zoë Ball (born 1970), English radio and television personality