baltar

Baltar is a surname of Iberian origin, found in Spain and Portugal, and in communities with Iberian heritage around the world. It is often considered to be toponymic, derived from a place name.

In fiction, Gaius Baltar is the best-known bearer of the name, a scientist whose actions influence the course of events in Battlestar Galactica. In the 1978 original series he is a scientist who becomes involved with the Cylons; in the 2004 reboot he is a charismatic but self-serving figure who ascends to political power and plays a central role in the human-Cylon dynamic.

The name also appears in contemporary life, borne by individuals in various professions across Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking communities, reflecting its Iberian origin and diaspora.