Baker History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  Netherlands 
  England 
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The distinguished surname Baker comes from the ancient culture of the Anglo-Saxons. The name is derived from the Old English "baecere," meaning "baker," and was first borne as an occupational name. 1 2 3

"Speaking generally, this surname is most numerous in the south of England, and diminishes rapidly in frequency as we proceed northward, until we reach the counties bordering Scotland, where it meets its extinction within sight of the Cheviot Hills. Baker is a name which prefers the coast; and the manner in which it abounds in almost all the coast counties of southern England (excluding Cornwall and Dorset), from Monmouth round to Suffolk, is very remarkable, and not at first sight intelligible. The counties of Monmouth, Somerset, Sussex, and Surrey stand foremost amongst those containing the greatest number of Bakers." 4

Early Origins of the Baker family

The surname Baker was first found in Norfolk, where the Pipe Rolls of 1177, list William le Bakere. Later in Lancashire, Robert Bakere was recorded in the Assize Rolls of 1246 and Walter le Backere was listed in Hampshire in 1280. 5

Thirteenth century England was a very different place that today. Early feudal rolls provided the king of the time a method of cataloguing holdings for taxation, but today they provide a glimpse into the wide surname spellings in use at that time. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed: Walter le Baker, Devon; William le Bakere, Oxfordshire; and Alan le Baker, Sussex. 6

In Somerset, records from the first year of King Edward III's reign listed: John le Baker; and Roger le Baker. 7

Early History of the Baker family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Baker research. Another 80 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1611, 1620, 1625, 1652, 1655, 1658, 1659, 1660, 1683, 1685, 1689, 1716 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Baker History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Baker Spelling Variations

The name Baker, appeared in many references, and from time to time, the surname was spelt Baker, Bakere, Baiker, Backer and others.

Early Notables of the Baker family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was

Baker World Ranking

In the United States, the name Baker is the 37th most popular surname with an estimated 425,277 people with that name. 8 However, in Canada, the name Baker is ranked the 71st most popular surname with an estimated 32,923 people with that name. 9 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Baker is the 50th popular surname with an estimated 473 people with that name. 10 Australia ranks Baker as 25th with 51,495 people. 11 New Zealand ranks Baker as 43rd with 5,425 people. 12 The United Kingdom ranks Baker as 39th with 92,518 people. 13 South Africa ranks Baker as 974th with 7,004 people. 14

Migration of the Baker family to Ireland

Some of the Baker family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 78 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.



Baker migration to the United States +

The New World beckoned as many of the settlers in Ireland, known as the Scotch/Irish, became disenchanted. They sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. Some called them, less romantically, the "coffin ships." Amongst the early settlers who could be considered kinsmen of the Baker family, or who bore a variation of the surname Baker were

Baker Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Baker Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Baker Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Baker Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Baker migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Baker Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
Baker Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Baker Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
Baker Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Baker migration to Australia +

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

Baker Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
Baker Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Baker 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:

Baker Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Baker migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 26
Baker Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Baker (post 1700) +





Suggested Readings for the name Baker +





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