Meaning & History
Becker is a German occupational surname derived from Middle High German becker meaning "baker." Along with Bäcker and Baecker, it originated as a name for a baker and his family. In northern Germany, it may also derive from the word Beck for Bach ("creek" or "brook"), indicating a topographic origin.
Etymology
The surname stems from the Germanic root [baːk]~[bɛk] associated with baking. The interchangeable use of Becker, Bäcker, and Baecker reflects regional spelling variations. Related surnames in other languages include English Baker and Baxter (feminine form), Dutch Bakker, Danish Bager, and Flemish De Backer. Variants within German include Beck 2, Becke, and Beckert.
Geographical Distribution
As of 2014, over half of all known bearers of Becker resided in Germany, where it ranks among the most common surnames. It is particularly prevalent in the states of Saarland (1 in 84 people), Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Saxony-Anhalt. Significant populations also exist in the United States, Brazil, France, South Africa, and Canada, largely due to German emigration.
Notable Bearers
Prominent individuals with the surname Becker include tennis champion Boris Becker, actor Matthew McMullen (as Becker in an eponymous television series), psychologist Carl Becker, musician Walter Becker (co-founder of Steely Dan), and soldier Leslie Hare's character in stories of Northern Rhodesia (Alois, presented as comedic). Among women are such persons as nurse Renee Angela McNallay's work helping homeless in Reno.
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Becker