Surname Backhausen - Meaning and Origin

Backhausen: What does the surname Backhausen mean?

Backhausen is a German-language surname of Low German origin, derived from the late Middle High German word 'bache' (stream).

In English and other language speaking countries, Backhausen is found as the last name of families who have an immigrant background from regions where the German language is spoken. The Backhausen surname is most commonly found among families who have their roots in Germany, Switzerland, Austria or other regions where German is the traditional language spoken.

The primary meaning of the Backhausen surname is 'stream house’, which implies a house situated near a stream or body of water. Historically, many families with the Backhausen surname were of peasant stock who lived and worked in rural areas. Variations on this last name include Beckhaus, Barkhaus and Bekhausen.

In contemporary Germany, families with the Backhausen surname are typically found in the industrialized regions or in larger cities. This may be partly attributable to a period of migration in the 19th and 20th centuries when rural areas saw significant outmigration to larger cities and other parts of Germany.

Today, the Backhausen surname can still be found all over Europe and in some parts of North America as well. Most people with this surname are likely to be descendants of those who immigrated from Germany.

Backhausen: Where does the name Backhausen come from?

The surname Backhausen is most common today in the regions of Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands. Specifically, it has been recorded in both Saxony and Bavaria in Germany, in Lower Austria in Austria, and in North Holland and Gelderland in the Netherlands. Outside of Europe, the surname Backhausen can be found in countries like Canada, the United States, and Australia.

In the United States, Backhausens mainly live in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and New York, but there are also isolated cases in California, Texas, and Massachusetts. Migration of Germans during the 19th and 20th centuries to parts of North America, such as the Appalachian Mountains in the United States, is the likely reason for the presence of Backhausen family lines in these states.

More recently, the 2000 population census conducted in the United States revealed the presence of the Backhausen surname in 25 US states. Today, this German surname stands out especially in the states of Utah, Washington, Arkansas, Ohio, and Missouri.

Outside of the United States, Backhausen is a relative common surname in Canada, especially in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia. Backhausen can also be found in parts of South America, such as Argentina, Chile, and Brazil. It is interesting to note that Backhausen is more common in some Muslim countries like the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Bahrain due to migration from regions of the former Soviet Union.

All in all, the surname Backhausen appears to be a highly migratory surname that has sailed across the world's continents and oceans and is still present today in many countries of the world.

Variations of the surname Backhausen

The Backhausen surname has various spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin. Some of the alternate spellings include: Bakhausen, Bachausen, Backhaus, Bachhaus, and Backhausen.

The surname Backhausen is of German origin. It likely began as a nickname for a baker in German speaking areas. The surname is derived from Middle High German and is composed of two elements: “bach” and “hausen”. "Bach" can refer to a stream or brook and "hausen" is derived from "haus" or house. The literal translation of Backhausen is “house near the stream or brook.”

Variant forms of Backhausen include Becker, Beckmann, Bakhausen, Backhausener, Bakhausener, Bachausen, Beckschroeer, Beckschaefer, and Bachhaus. These variants were formed by changing the spelling of Backhaus. Alternatively, the name may have been misread or misspelled by German record keepers, which created new versions.

The Backhausen surname can also be seen with the suffix -mann or -man. This is due to the adoption of patronymic surnames in Germany. The prefix "Bach" was sometimes dropped, leaving the surname simply as "Hausmann" or "Hausenmann".

Variations of Backhausen can be found in many countries, including the United States, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, England, France, Switzerland, and Germany. Today, the Backhausen surname is most commonly found in Louisiana, Wisconsin, New York, and California.

Famous people with the name Backhausen

• Friedrich Wilhelm Backhausen (1792: 1867), German astronomer.
• Johann Balthasar Backhausen (1702-1765), German composer.
• Georg Philipp Backhausen (1895-1978), German publicist.
• Otmar Backhausen (1769-1852), German Protestant theologian and Hebraist.
• Hedwig Backhausen (1842–1929), German painter and engraver.
• Daeschler Backhausen (1893–1960), German Holocaust survivor.
• Günther Backhausen (1931-2018), German Lawyer.
• Fred Backhausen (1914–1994), American multi-millionaire businessman.
• Helmut Backhausen (1927–2015), German theologian and sociology professor.
• Alfred Johann Backhausen (1935-2005), German sculptor and graphic artist.

Other surnames

BackhausBackhauss