Baker History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The distinguished surname Baker comes from the ancient culture of the Anglo-Saxons. The name is derived from the Old English “baecere,” meaning “baker,” and was first borne as an occupational name. 1 2 3

“Speaking generally, this surname is most numerous in the south of England, and diminishes rapidly in frequency as we proceed northward, until we reach the counties bordering Scotland, where it meets its extinction within sight of the Cheviot Hills. Baker is a name which prefers the coast; and the manner in which it abounds in almost all the coast counties of southern England (excluding Cornwall and Dorset), from Monmouth round to Suffolk, is very remarkable, and not at first sight intelligible. The counties of Monmouth, Somerset, Sussex, and Surrey stand foremost amongst those containing the greatest number of Bakers.” 4

Early Origins of the Baker family

The surname Baker was first found in Norfolk, where the Pipe Rolls of 1177, list William le Bakere. Later in Lancashire, Robert Bakere was recorded in the Assize Rolls of 1246 and Walter le Backere was listed in Hampshire in 1280. 5

Thirteenth century England was a very different place that today. Early feudal rolls provided the king of the time a method of cataloguing holdings for taxation, but today they provide a glimpse into the wide surname spellings in use at that time. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed: Walter le Baker, Devon; William le Bakere, Oxfordshire; and Alan le Baker, Sussex. 6

In Somerset, records from the first year of King Edward III’s reign listed: John le Baker; and Roger le Baker. 7