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Backer History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Backer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Backer is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name was taken on by someone who worked as a baker. In the Middle Ages, this name would have referred either to the person in charge of the ovens in the manorial household or to the person who kept the communal oven in the village. All the villagers for the making of bread used communal ovens.

Early Origins of the Backer family

The surname Backer was first found in Norfolk where William le Bakere was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1177. Later, Rober Bakere was found in the Assize Rolls for Lancashire in 1246 and Walter le Backere in Hampshire in 1280. 1

Early History of the Backer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Backer research. Another 148 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1280, 1500, 1547 and 1591 are included under the topic Early Backer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Backer Spelling Variations

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 Backer include Backer, Backar, Backere, Bacar, Baccar, Backor, Bacor and many more.

Early Notables of the Backer family

Distinguished members of the family include

Walter le Backere, a prominent 13th century landholder in Hampshire

Backer Ranking

In the United States, the name Backer is the 7,629^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2

Backer migration to the United States +

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:

Backer Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Willem Jeuriaensz Backer, who arrived in New York, NY in 1638 aboard the ship "De Liefde (the Love)" 3
Thomas Backer, who landed in Connecticut in 1639 3
Joane Backer, who arrived in Virginia in 1651 3
Jacob Backer, who arrived in Long Island in 1657 3
Hendrick Willemse Backer, who arrived in New York in 1661 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Backer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Ferdinant Backer, who landed in New York in 1709 3
Apollonia Backer, (b. 1729), who arrived in Georgia in 1734 aboard the ship "Prince of Wales" 3
Hans Mich Backer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1737 3
Hans Michael Backer, aged 23, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1737 3
Henrich Backer, aged 20, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1738 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Backer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Adam Backer, who arrived in Brazil in 1827 3
Daniel Backer, who landed in New York in 1830 3
Cath Elsabein Backer, who arrived in Louisiana in 1833 3
Annne Margaret Backer, who settled in America in 1834
Annne Elis Backer, who settled in America in 1836
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Backer migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Backer Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. John Backer U.E. who settled in Home District, [Niagara], Lincoln County, Ontario c. 1783 4

Backer migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Backer Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Fr. Backer, aged 41, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Malvina Vidal"

Contemporary Notables of the name Backer (post 1700) +

William Montague "Bill" Backer (1926-2016), American advertising executive, known for his slogans "Things go better with Coke" and "the real thing"; he wrote the song "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)"
Terrence Eddy Backer (1954-2015), American politician, Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives (1993-2015)
Brian Backer (b. 1956), American actor
Brad Backer, Australian rugby football player
William Backer, advertising agency executive and composer
Lars Backer (1892-1930), Norwegian architect
Harriet Backer (1845-1932), Norwegian painter
Augustin de Backer (1809-1873), Roman Catholic bibliographer

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X