Backus is an English surname, a variant of Backhouse. The surname derives from

Middle English Middle English (abbreviated to ME) is a form of the English language that was spoken after the Norman Conquest of 1066, until the late 15th century. The English language underwent distinct variations and developments following the Old English pe ...

''bak(e)hous'', meaning

bakehouse A bakery is an establishment that produces and sells flour-based baked goods made in an oven such as bread, cookies, cakes, doughnuts, bagels, Pastry, pastries, and pies. Some retail bakeries are also categorized as Coffeehouse, cafés, servi ...

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 Decembe ...

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

Billy Backus Billy Backus, (born March 5, 1943) is an American former list of undisputed world boxing champions#Welterweight, Undisputed World Welterweight Champion professional boxer. In the summer of 2006 Backus retired from his correctional facility job an ...

(born 1943), former world boxing champion *

Catherine Backus Catherine Fallis Backus (1863–1955) was an American sculptor. She created several commemorative bronze statues and busts from the 1890s through the first decade of the 20th century. She is perhaps most well known for creating a statue of Willia ...

(1863–1955), American sculptor *

Edward Burdette Backus Edwin Burdette Backus (1888–1955) was an American Unitarian minister and humanist Humanism is a philosophical stance that emphasizes the individual and social potential, and agency of human beings, whom it considers the starting ...

(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 Ontari ...

(1861–1934), American timber baron * Frederick F. Backus (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's ...

(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 Lo ...

(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 She had th ...

(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) is a retired American politician who served as a Vermont, Vermont state Vermont Senate, senator representing Windham County, Vermont, Windham County from 1989 to 1994 and Chittenden County, Vermont, Chittenden Cou ...

(20th century), American politician *

Jeff Backus Jeffrey Carl Backus (born September 21, 1977) is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Michigan. He was selected with ...

(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 led the team that invented and implemented FORTRAN, the first widely used high-level programming language, and was the inventor of the Backus–N ...

(1924–2007), American computer scientist *

Samuel W. Backus Samuel Woolsey Backus (6 November 1844 in Pine Plains, New York – 10 April 1930 in San Francisco, California) served in the California legislature and during the American Civil War he served in the US Army. From January 9, 1880 – July 1 ...

, 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 coac ...

(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. C ...

(born 1975), American politician * Standish Backus (1910–1989), American military artist * Winston Backus (1920–2020), Canadian politician

References

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People

See also

References