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Backus Family History

Backus Name Meaning

English (Leicestershire): from Middle English bak(e)hous ‘bakehouse’ (Old English bæchūs) hence a topographic name for someone who lived or worked in a bakery. Dutch: in Limburg province a shortened variant of Bakhuis Dutch form of German Backhaus . Americanized form of German Backhaus . Lithuanian (Bačkus): from bačka ‘barrel cask’ hence either a nickname for a short fat man or an occupational name for a cooper. The surname Bačkus is very rare in Lithuania.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Barkus, Back, Banks, Backer, Backes, Baccus, Bachus, Backhaus

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Backus family from?

You can see how Backus families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Backus family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Backus families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 56 Backus families living in Ontario. This was about 65% of all the recorded Backus's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Backus families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Backus surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Backus ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Backus. 65% of Backus men worked as a Farmer and 60% of Backus women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Backus were Salesman and Operator. .

View Census Data for Backus | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1921

  • Farmer
    65%
  • Logger
    8%
  • Income
    8%
  • Salesman
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Stenographer
    60%
  • Operator
    40%
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What Backus family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 37,000 census records available for the last name Backus. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Backus census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Backus

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Backus. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

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Draft Cards

There are 11,000 military records available for the last name Backus. For the veterans among your Backus ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Backus lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Backus life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1996. The average life expectancy for Backus in 1944 was 34, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Backus

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