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Backen Family History

Backen Surname Meaning

Americanized form of Norwegian Bakken. North Frisian and North German (Schleswig-Holstein): patronymic from Backe.

This surname is very rare in North Frisia.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Backen family from?

You can see how Backen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Backen family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Backen families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 14 Backen families living in Ontario. This was about 74% of all the recorded Backen's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Backen families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Backen 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 Backen ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Backen. 34% of Backen men worked as a Laborer and 30% of Backen women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Backen were Manager and New Worker.

View Census Data for Backen | 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.

United States shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    34%
  • Farmer
    27%
  • Farm Laborer
    12%
  • Manager
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    30%
  • Stenographer
    18%
  • Teacher
    18%
  • New Worker
    12%

What Backen family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Backen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Backen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Backen

Passenger Lists

There are 425 immigration records available for the last name Backen. 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.

View all Backen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 961 military records available for the last name Backen. For the veterans among your Backen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Backen military records

You've only scratched the surface of Backen family history

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What is the average Backen lifespan?

Between 1959 and 2004, in the United States, Backen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1967, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Backen in 1959 was 45, and 91 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Backen

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Backen ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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