'ballard' originates from Middle English, ultimately from an Old French word (such as 'ballart'/'balart') in which the root element meant 'bald'.

'ballard' appeared in Middle English as a word meaning 'bald person' and later became used as a surname (e.g. the family name Ballard) in modern English.

Initially it meant 'a bald person' (descriptive), but over time it became primarily a family name; the original descriptive sense is now archaic.