Backus is a middle English surname deriving from the Old English bacan "to bake" and hus "house." It is believed to have originated in the north English historic counties of Cumberland and Durham.

People

Notable people with the surname include: * A. E. Backus (1909–1990), American artist *

Azel Backus Azel Backus (October 13, 1765 – December 28, 1816) was an American educator, born in New London County, Connecticut. After having a long preaching career, he was elected as the first President of Hamilton College in New York. He died on Decem ...

(1765–1816), first President of Hamilton College in New York *

Billy Backus Billy Backus, (born March 5, 1943 in Canastota, New York) is a former World Welterweight Champion professional boxer. In the summer of 2006 Backus retired from his correctional facility job and moved to South Carolina."Canastota's last champ pulls ...

(born 1943), former world boxing champion * Edward Burdette Backus (1888–1955), American Unitarian minister and humanist *

Edward Wellington Backus Edward Wellington Backus (December 1, 1861 – October 29, 1934) was a timber baron, dam builder, mill owner, financier, developer of the northern reaches of Minnesota, and president of the Ontario & Minnesota Power Company and Minnesota and Ontario ...

(1861–1934), American timber baron *

Frederick F. Backus Frederick Fanning Backus (June 15, 1794 Bethlehem, Litchfield County, Connecticut – November 4, 1858 Rochester, Monroe County, New York) was an American physician and politician from New York. Life He was the son of Rev. Azel Backus D.D. (1765� ...

(1794–1858), American physician and member of the New York State Senate *

George Edward Backus George Edward Backus (born May 24, 1930) is an American geophysicist, best known for his work with J. Freeman Gilbert on inverse methods for geophysical data. He is also notably credited with advancing the dynamo theory on the origin of the Earth' ...

(born 1930), American geophysicist *

Gus Backus Donald Edgar "Gus" Backus (September 12, 1937 – February 21, 2019) was an American singer. He started his career as a member of The Del-Vikings and later became a successful Schlager singer in Germany. Life and career Backus was born on Lon ...

(1937–2019), American singer *

Henny Backus Henny Backus (born Henrietta Kaye, March 21, 1911 – December 9, 2004) was a Broadway showgirl in the 1930s whose stage credits include Orson Welles's ''Horse Eats Hat''. She was the wife of actor and comedian Jim Backus. Career Henrietta K ...

(1911–2004), Broadway showgirl and wife of Jim Backus * Henry T. Backus (1809–1877), American politician, Lieutenant Governor of Michigan and judge in Arizona Territory *

Isaac Backus Isaac Backus (January 9, 1724November 20, 1806) was a leading Baptist minister during the era of the American Revolution who campaigned against state-established churches in New England. Little is known of his childhood. In "An account of the lif ...

(1724–1806), American Baptist preacher and politician *

Jan Backus Jan Backus (born July 30, 1947) served as a Vermont state senator representing Windham County from 1989 to 1994 and Chittenden County from 1997 to 2000. A community activist, Backus served as a member of the Vermont Southeast Supervisory Unio ...

(20th century), Vermont state senator *

Jeff Backus Jeffrey Carl Backus (born September 21, 1977) is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Michigan. He was drafted with the 18th pick in the first round o ...

(born 1977), American professional football player *

Jim Backus James Gilmore Backus (February 25, 1913 – July 3, 1989) was an American actor. Among his most famous roles were Thurston Howell III on the 1960s sitcom '' Gilligan's Island,'' the father of James Dean's character in ''Rebel Without a Cause ...

(1913–1989), American actor *

John Backus John Warner Backus (December 3, 1924 – March 17, 2007) was an American computer scientist. He directed the team that invented and implemented FORTRAN, the first widely used high-level programming language, and was the inventor of the Back ...

(1924–2007), American computer scientist * Samuel W. Backus, 19th-century American politician from California *

Sharron Backus Sharron Backus (born February 12, 1946) is a former softball player and coach. She played as a shortstop and third baseman on seven Amateur Softball Association national championship teams from 1961 to 1975. She served as the head softball coach ...

(born 1946), American former softball player and coach *

Shea Backus Shea Backus (born 1975) is an American politician and attorney serving as a member of the Nevada Assembly from the 37th district. Early life Backus was born in 1975 in Las Vegas, Nevada, a third generation Nevadan. After graduating from Ed W. Cl ...

(born 1975), American politician * Winston Backus (born 1920), Canadian politician

References

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People

See also

References