Hi, the name has been traced to Tancred le Balyard, who was commander-in-chief of the army of Chlodwig, King of France, about the year 500. The name Tancredin old French, meant "many wound or scars" and it said the time of his death was about 524. He married Yutts de Mezierers and had two sons, Hugo and he died as the Archbishop of Mailand, and Alfred,who became a soldier. Alfred Balyard married Amelie Chateau Roux. He had two sons Franz and Reynald, whose descendant lived in France until about 1066, when the majority of the went with Duke William, of Normandy to England and settled in the county of Sussex. Gualthar Balyard remained in France and married Undine de Perigord. An active soldier, he met his death in the first Cruade, at the storming of Jerusalem. The family flurished in Levant and when the Crusades were over about 1280, a Bertrand Balyard returned to France and was made Lieutenant of Burgundy. He bought a wife from the East, named Adelheid von Bernstrof, of German origin and left after his death in 1312 a son named Sylvester Balyard. His descendants lived in Burgundy, one of whom was Raimund Balyard, died in 1554 in Paris leaving 5 sons; Armand, Michael, Louis, Frederick and Berno. Paul Balliet, grandson of Jacob of Schalbach, of this branch, was born in Alsace, in 1717 and emigrated to America on the ship "Robert and Alice" Sept 10, 1738. He settled in Whitehall township. He married in 1749 Maria Magdalena Worting. She was born in Lorraine in 1727 and died 1802. Another history states, among the oldest settlers was Paulus Balliet, born in Alsace, in the year 1717, he came to America in the ship "Robert Oliver", landed 10 Sept 1738. He marrid Maria Magdalena Worting, a native of Loraine, France and she died in 1802. Paulus died 9 March 1777, aged 60 and he was buried in the south-east section of the old burial-ground of Union Church, He left 5 sons and daughters, named John, Nicholas, Stephen, John, Paul, Catharine, Susan, Eva and Magdalena. Of these, Stephen, born in 1753,, a Col. in the Rev. He died 4 Aug 1841, his wife Magdalena Burgalter, d/o Peter. The name is variously written Balliot, Paulyet, Palliot, Palyard and Balyard in the old record, but Paulus himself either Baliet or Balliet. 21 Jan 1814, Estate of Paul Balleit of Whitehall township, died in March 1777 with a will. Children, Nicholas, died after his father, unmarried and without issue, Paul, John, Catharine, wife of Adam Deshler, Susanna, widow of John Bear, Eva, the deceased wife of Nicholas Saeger, left 6 children, all married, Magdalena, with of Christian Traxell. War of 1812 Balliet, Bartholomew, wife Ann (Weiss) WC9168, married 16 Nov 1816, soldier died 21 Feb 1858 in Allentown, widow died 11 April 1884, PA Mil. Lived in Lehigh Co. Rev. War Balliet, Jacob, wife Barbara, PA Line, widow applied 1850 Northumberland Co,aged 84. Soldier married Elizabeth Barbara Ritter 6 Nov 1781, soldier died 1831 in Northampton Co, and srv as an officer in the Rev.War from there, he lived in Bethlehem township, in 1850 widow lived a son Daniel in Delaware township, Northumberland township, a son, John Jacob as born 7 June 1782, also shown but no relationship was not mentioned in the same church, Rosanna, d/o Nicholas Bilsch, born 5 May 1782 and John, s.o Rudolf and Barbara Schwietzer born May 5, 1782 Best Wishes, Geri