The Origins of the family name Belch

The ancestors of the Belch surname lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture.
The name comes from when they lived at or near a bank or ridge.
Further research showed the name was derived from the Old English word Balca which means dweller by the bank or ridge.
Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname belch include Balch, Balche, Belch, Belche, Ballch, Bellch, Ballche and many more.
First found in Oxfordshire, where they were seated from ancient times.
A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled.
Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:
John Balch, who arrived in Salem Massachusettes in 1620;
Benjamin Balch, who sailed to Massachusettes in 1624
and John Balch, who arrived in Texas in 1836.