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Origins of the Baker surname

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What does the name Baker mean?

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.

Alternative variations of the name Baker

Baker, Backer, Baiker, Bakere, Bakers

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Where do most Bakers live?

In 1921, most Bakers lived in London.


Census records trace your ancestors through each generation, so you can follow where your relatives lived through each decade.

Interesting facts about Bakers

How common is your surname?

33rd most common surname in the UK

We have 694,000 records for the Baker surname. The oldest one dates back to 1220.

Who were Bakers most likely to marry?

Smiths

&

Joneses

Our Marriage record sets tell us which families married Bakers.

What are the most common Baker first names?

  • John
  • William
  • Mary
  • Elizabeth

Our birth record sets tell us the names of Baker family members

Common jobs for Bakers

Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.

Common Female occupations for Bakers in 1921
Dressmaker

3,170

Laundress

2,191

Domestic Servant

1,788

General Servant Domestic

1,616

General Servant

1,346

Common Male occupations for Bakers in 1921
Agricultural Labourer

4,028

General Labourer

2,776

Carpenter

2,366

Farm Labourer

2,095

Farmer

1,904

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We found over 650,000 family trees with the Baker surname

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