Surname Backhuys - Meaning and Origin
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Backhuys: What does the surname Backhuys mean?
The last name Backhuys is derived from Dutch and is made up of two components: "back" and "huys". The first portion, "back," means "bourgeois." The "huys" part is a commonly used suffix that means “a large house or a family home.” Thus, when combined, the two words mean "a house owned by a bourgeoisie family."
The last name Backhuys is found primarily in the Netherlands and other regions of northwest Europe. It is believed to have originated in a small, rural village and become popular during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, when most of the people lived in large estates and estates that emphasized the status of the people who owned them, indicating that the family was from a higher social class.
Historically, Backhuys has served as a surname of artisan families and merchants, indicating their relatively affluent lifestyles. It can also be seen as a testament to the craftsmanship of the same families, as their wealthy house served as an example of the care and precision they took when it came to construction and upkeep.
The Backhuys family still exists throughout Europe today, although their numbers have drastically decreased since the middle ages. Nonetheless, the family name remains a symbol of the heritage of a shared past.
Order DNA origin analysisBackhuys: Where does the name Backhuys come from?
Backhuys is a very uncommon last name. According to the Census Bureau of the United States, the surname Backhuys is not found in any state in the United States. However, it is common in The Netherlands. According to the Dutch Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek, Backhuys is the 386th most common surname in The Netherlands.
The origin of the surname Backhuys is unknown, though some believe it means "back house;" as the Dutch first used Backhuys to refer to the households of farmers or small holdings in the countryside. Backhuys and its various spelling variations have spread across the Netherlands, with higher concentrations found in the provinces of South Holland, Zeeland, and Friesland. It also may have spread to other countries through emigration.
Today, Backhuys remains a very uncommon surname internationally. It is most common in The Netherlands and is found in much lower concentrations in Belgium and France. The surname is also found in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia, primarily among descendants of Dutch immigrants.
Variations of the surname Backhuys
The variants, spellings and surnames for the surname Backhuys include Bakhus, Bakkehuys, Bakkhuys, Bakhus, Beckhuis, Bakkhuis, Bakhuis, Bakhuysen, Beckhuysen, Bakhuijsen, Bakjus, Bakjuh, Bakju, Bakjuïs, and Backhuysen.
Backhuys, also known as Bakhus, Bakkehuys, Bakkhuys, Bakhus, Beckhuis, Bakkhuis, Bakhuis, Bakhuysen, Beckhuysen, Bakhuijsen, Bakjus, Bakjuh, Bakju, Bakjuïs, and Backhuysen, is a Dutch family name, which refers to someone who came from a farm owned by one person, and is of occupational origin. It is derived from the Middle Dutch words “back” and “huis”, which mean “barn and house”.
The first known spelling of the name was “Boecbackhus”, which originated in West Friesland and Amsterdam. The name refers to a one-man-owned farm owned by “Boec” or a free farmer, whose name was “Boecbackhusʻʼ. Throughout the last century, the name has changed and evolved over time into the variants and spellings that we are familiar with now.
In the 19th century, the surname could be found in certain parts of the Netherlands, particularly in Zeeland, Holland, West Friesland, Utrecht, North Brabant, and other Dutch regions. Over the centuries, the name has spread to other European countries, such as Germany and the United States of America, with emigrants from the Netherlands.
Today, the surname Backhuys is a popular Dutch name, found among people of Dutch origin all over the world. The name is often shortened to Bakhuys, or Backhuyse, which refers to a ‘person who lives on the farm’. The surname is believed to have several meanings, however, the most common one is “person who lives on the farm”.
Famous people with the name Backhuys
- Frits Backhuys: A Dutch sculptor and painter, best known for his sculptures of skulls.
- William Backhuys: A Dutch football player, who played for Wilhelmina and Ajax in the late 1970s.
- Martine Backhuys: A Dutch actress, best known for her role in the movie 'De Lift'.
- Zef Backhuys: An eminent Dutch geographer, who specialized in the physical, political and cultural geography of Asia.
- J.L. Backhuys: A Dutch diplomat, who served as the Dutch ambassador to China in the early 1940s.
- Frits Backhuysen: A Dutch painter of the Dutch Golden Age, who was one of the main members of the popular Dutch artistic family the Van de Backhuysens.
- Willem Backhuysen: A 17th century Dutch Golden Age painter, known for his Marine art.
- Thomas Backhuys: A Dutch composer and conductor during the 18th century.
- Huibert Backhuys: An 18th century Dutch philosopher and physician, known for his pioneering work on infectious diseases.
- Dirk Backhuys: A Dutch astronomer, best known for founding the Leiden Observatory and for his work on the theory of celestial mechanics.