Backe
A surname derived from the German word "Bäcker" meaning baker.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 480 Americans carry the last name Backe. That puts it at #52,037 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.14 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 714,072 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Backe surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
480
1 in 714,072
Census rank
#52,037
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
399
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 399 bearers of the surname Backe in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.14 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 52037th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Backe, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.0%) and Two or More Races (1.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Backe
The surname BACKE is believed to have originated in Germany, likely during the medieval period. It is derived from the German word "backe," which means "cheek" or "side of the face." This suggests that the name may have been initially used as a descriptive nickname or occupational name for someone who worked with baking or had prominent cheeks.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname BACKE can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of historical documents from the German state of Saxony, dating back to the 13th century. This indicates that the name was already in use by that time and may have originated even earlier.
In the 14th century, a notable figure named Johannes BACKE was mentioned in the records of the city of Lübeck, a prominent trading center in northern Germany. This reference provides further evidence of the name's presence in the region during that era.
The BACKE surname has also been linked to various place names in Germany, such as Backnang, a town in the state of Baden-Württemberg. This place name is believed to have its roots in the Old High German word "bahho," meaning "stream" or "brook," suggesting a possible connection between the surname and geographical locations.
One of the earliest known individuals with the surname BACKE was Hans BACKE, born in 1470 in the German town of Nuremberg. He was a prominent merchant and banker, and his legacy is recorded in the city's historical archives.
Another notable figure was Johannes BACKE, a German theologian and reformer born in 1492 in Oppenheim. He played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation and was known for his writings and sermons advocating for religious reform.
In the 16th century, Matthias BACKE, a German artist and engraver, gained recognition for his intricate woodcuts and engravings, many of which portrayed religious themes and scenes from the Bible.
During the 17th century, Georg BACKE, a German mathematician and astronomer, made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and the calculation of planetary orbits. He was born in 1623 in the city of Erfurt.
In the 18th century, Johann Friedrich BACKE, a German composer and organist, gained recognition for his compositions for the church and his skill as a performer. He was born in 1735 in the town of Halle an der Saale.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Backe
Among Census respondents with the surname Backe, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.0%) and Two or More Races (1.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Backe bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Backe surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.7%
- Hispanic or Latino5.0%
- Two or more races1.5%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Backe surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #52,037 | #52,037 | 0.0% |
| Count | 399 | 399 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Backe bearers went from 399 to 399 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #52,037 to #52,037.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Backe
FAQ
Backe surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Backe?
The surname Backe holds position #52,037 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 480 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.14 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Backe surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Backe, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.0%) and Two or More Races (1.5%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.