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Becker Family History

Becker Name Meaning

German and Dutch: occupational name for a baker of bread or brick and tiles derived from Middle High German and Middle Dutch backen ‘to bake’. The German surname is also found in France (mainly Lorraine and Alsace). Danish: occupational name for a baker from bechere ‘baker’. Jewish (Ashkenazic): occupational name for a baker from German Bäcker (compare 1 and Backer ) or Yiddish beker ‘baker’. English: possibly an occupational name derived from an unrecorded Middle English bekker ‘maker or user of mattocks’ (a derivative of Middle English bek(ke) ‘mattock pick’).

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


Similar surnames: Becher, Bicker, Bekker, Ecker, Backer, Decker, Secker, Necker, Packer

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Becker family from?

You can see how Becker families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Becker family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Becker families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 236 Becker families living in New York. This was about 63% of all the recorded Becker's in USA. New York had the highest population of Becker families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Becker surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What did your Becker ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Becker. 12% of Becker men worked as a Farmer and 8% of Becker women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Becker were Clerk and Housekeeper. .

View Census Data for Becker | 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 1940

  • Farmer
    12%
  • Laborer
    10%
  • Salesman
    6%
  • Clerk
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    8%
  • Housewife
    7%
  • Clerk
    6%
  • Housekeeper
    5%
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What Becker family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 427,000 census records available for the last name Becker. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Becker census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Becker

Passenger Lists

There are 99,000 immigration records available for the last name Becker. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

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Draft Cards

There are 131,000 military records available for the last name Becker. For the veterans among your Becker ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Becker lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Becker life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Becker in 1940 was 40, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Becker

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