What does your surname mean?
As every genealogist knows, we're all the product of our family's history. But genetics aren't the only thing that we pass down the generations. Used to identify our familial bonds, surnames link us to even our most distant ancestors. If your curious about your family history, doing a surname search is a great place to start.
The origin of your last name can reveal a lot about your earliest ancestors' birthplaces, occupations and more.
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Surname of the week
Baker
If you meet a Baker, tell them...
The origin of the Baker surname is thought to be Anglo-Saxon and have come from the English-Scottish border region, though it is common enough to have spread across Britain and the English-speaking world. Baker is an occupational name, coming from the Old English word 'baecere', which means to dry with heat. Early holders may not have only baked bread, and may also have owned a communal oven. The term 'bakster' was the female form of this, and variants have arisen along the same lines.
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