Find out how popular the last name Backey is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Backey.

Backey, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Backey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Backey in America

Backey is the 140157th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Backey surname appeared 119 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Backey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Backey to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Backey

The surname BACKEY is believed to have originated in England, with roots dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from a now-lost or unidentified place name that may have contained the Old English elements 'bæc' meaning 'back' or 'ridge' and 'ey' meaning 'island' or 'water meadow'.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name BACKEY can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire from 1198, where a Robert de Backey is mentioned. The Pipe Rolls were a series of annual financial records maintained by the English Exchequer detailing the collection of taxes and other payments due to the Crown.

Another early reference to the name appears in the Hertfordshire Assize Rolls of 1259, which record the name of a William Backey. The Assize Rolls were court records documenting judicial proceedings and legal disputes, providing valuable insights into the lives of individuals from that era.

During the 13th century, variations of the name began to emerge, such as Backeye and Backy. These spelling variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions at the time, and the name's pronunciation likely influenced how it was recorded.

One notable bearer of the BACKEY surname was Sir John Backey, a prominent English landowner and knight who lived in the late 14th century. He is mentioned in several historical documents, including the Patent Rolls of 1385, which record his appointment as a Justice of the Peace for Lincolnshire.

In the 16th century, the name BACKEY appeared in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. These records document the christenings, marriages, and burials of individuals within the parish, providing valuable genealogical information.

Another individual of note was Thomas Backey, who was born in the village of Weston-under-Redcastle in Shropshire in 1612. He later became a successful merchant and landowner, leaving a substantial estate upon his death in 1682.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the BACKEY surname continued to be found throughout various parts of England, with pockets of concentration in counties such as Lincolnshire, Worcestershire, and Shropshire. Some notable individuals from this period include William Backey (1679-1743), a prominent lawyer and landowner from Gloucestershire, and Elizabeth Backey (1705-1778), a renowned author and poet from Yorkshire.

While the BACKEY surname has its roots firmly planted in England, over the centuries, it has spread to other parts of the world through emigration and migration. However, its origins can be traced back to the early medieval period in England, where it emerged as a locational name reflecting the naming practices of the time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Backey

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Backey.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Backey was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Backey has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Backey was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Backey, please contact us.

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