Contents [hide]

Becker History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Canada New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Becker History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Netherlands
England
Germany
Ireland

The name Becker is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in Yorkshire. The name is of German origin, however, and is a local name which means "the dweller beside the brook."

Early Origins of the Becker family

The surname Becker was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times well before the Norman Conquest when Duke William invaded England in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Becker family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Becker research. Another 67 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1379 and 1561 are included under the topic Early Becker History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Becker Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Becker are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Becker include: Becker, Becher and others.

Early Notables of the Becker family

More information is included under the topic Early Becker Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Becker World Ranking

In the United States, the name Becker is the 389^th most popular surname with an estimated 72,123 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Becker is ranked the 886^th most popular surname with an estimated 6,024 people with that name. 2 And in France, the name Becker is the 424^th popular surname with an estimated 10,073 people with that name. 3 Netherlands ranks Becker as 881^st with 2,286 people. 4

Migration of the Becker family to Ireland

Some of the Becker family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Becker migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Becker or a variant listed above:

Becker Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Jochem Becker, aged 38, who landed in New York in 1654 5
Jan Jurrianse Becker, who landed in New York in 1663 5

Becker Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Harts Henrig Becker, who arrived in New York in 1709 5
Friederich Becker, who arrived in New Jersey in 1709 5
Albert Becker, who arrived in New York in 1709 5
Anna Cath Becker, who arrived in New York in 1709 5
Conrad Becker, who landed in New York in 1709 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Becker Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Elizabeth Becker, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1802 5
Eliz Becker, aged 48, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1804 5
I C Becker, aged 24, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1804 5
Daniel Becker, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1827 5
Hans Becker, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1834 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Becker Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Wilhelmina Becker, aged 8, who arrived in New York, NY in 1901 5

Becker migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Becker Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Ernst Becker, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1753
Henrich Becker, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1757
Barbara Becker, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1757
Catherine Becker, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1757
Jacob Becker, age 28, who settled in Canada in 1783

Becker Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Christian Becker, who landed in Canada in 1832
Barton Becker, who landed in Canada in 1841
Jeremiah Becker, who landed in Canada in 1841
Herman Becker, who landed in Manitoba in 1877
Jacob Becker, who arrived in Manitoba in 1877
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Becker migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Becker Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Victor Becker, aged 27, a plumber, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Queen of The Age" in 1874
Reine Becker, aged 23, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Queen of The Age" in 1874

Contemporary Notables of the name Becker (post 1700) +

Gary Stanley Becker (b. 1932), American Economist, awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1992, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2007
Howard Saul Becker (1928-2023), American sociologist who taught at Northwestern University from Chicago, Illinois
Diane Becker (b. 1969), American producer and production manager, known for Stutz (2022), Tina (2021) and Navalny (2022) which was the winner of the Academy Award for Best Documentary
Quinn Henderson Becker (1930-2022), American lieutenant general in the United States Army, Surgeon General of the United States Army from February 1985 to May 1988
Bowe Becker (b. 1997), American professional swimmer, who won an Olympic gold medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics
Alan S. Becker (1946-2020), American lawyer, politician, educator, and writer
Walter Carl Becker (1950-2017), American songwriter, co-founder, guitarist, bassist, and co-songwriter of Steely Dan
Arthur William John Becker III (1927-2015), American theatre critic and film distributor, owner of Playbill, a monthly American magazine for theatregoers
Bernard Becker (1920-2013), American professor emeritus of ophthalmology at Washington University's School of Medicine
Ernest Becker (1924-1974), American cultural anthropologist awarded the 1973 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction
... (Another 28 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Becker family +

Bismarck

Wilhelm Becker (1918-1941), German Matrose who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 6
Heinz Becker (1920-1941), German Mechanikersgefreiter A. who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 6
Walter Becker (1921-1941), German Schreibersgefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 6
Ernst Becker (1922-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 6
Eberhard Becker (1923-1941), German Feuerwerksgefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 6
... (Another 1 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Flight 191

C Becker (d. 1979), American passenger from USA, who flew aboard American Airlines Flight 191 and died in the crash 7

Flight TWA 800

Miss. Michelle Becker (1977-1996), from St. Petersburg, Florida, USA, American student of Georgia State University flying aboard flight TWA 800 from J.F.K. Airport, New York to Leonardo da Vinci Airport, Rome when the plane crashed after takeoff ; she died in the crash 8

RMS Titanic

Mrs. Nellie E. Becker, (née Baumgardner), aged 35, Indian Second Class passenger from Guntur, India who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping on life boat 11 9
Miss Ruth Elizabeth Becker, aged 12, Indian Second Class passenger from Guntur, India who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping on life boat 13 9
Miss Marion Louise Becker, aged 4, Indian Second Class passenger from Guntur, India who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping on life boat 11 9
Master Richard Frederick Becker, aged 1.5, Indian Second Class passenger from Guntur, India who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping on life boat 11 9

USS Arizona

Mr. Harvey H. Becker, American Gunner's Mate Second Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 10
Mr. Marvin Otto Becker, American Gunner's Mate Third Class from Kansas, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 10
Mr. Wesley Paulson Becker, American Seaman First Class from Kansas, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 10

The Becker Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Bis vivit qui bene
Motto Translation: He lives twice who lives well.

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
"Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
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)
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details
Flight 191's Victims - latimes. (Retrieved 2014, April 16) . Retrieved from http://articles.latimes.com/1985-08-04/news/mn-4349_1_fort-lauderdale-area
The Washington Post Passenger List TWA Flight 800. (Retrieved 2018, February 15th). Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/twa800/list01.htm
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html