Contents [hide]

Bach History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Bach History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany
Wales

Etymology of Bach

What does the name Bach mean?

The ancestral home of the Bach family is in the German state of Bavaria. The name Bach is an occupational hereditary surname, a type of surname that was taken from a word describing or common to the profession of the original bearer. It is a name for a baker in Old German. Bach is also a German local name for someone who lived by a stream, which was originally derived from the German word "bach" which means stream.

Early Origins of the Bach family

The surname Bach was first found in Augsburg, Bavarian Swabia, where the family gained a significant reputation for its contributions to the emerging mediaeval society. The name became prominent as many branches of the family founded separate houses and acquired estates in various regions, always elevating their social status by their great contributions to society.

Early History of the Bach family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bach research. Another 213 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1545, 1578, 1604, 1673, 1685, 1714, 1735, 1750, 1782, 1788, 1813, 1854 and 1893 are included under the topic Early Bach History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bach Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Bach include Bach, Bache, Bacher, Baechle, Bachle, Back, Backe, Bacch, Bacche, Baach, Baacher and many more.

Early Notables of the Bach family

Prominent among members of the name Bach in this period include

Johann (Johannes) Bach (1604-1673), a German composer and musician of the Baroque

Bach Ranking

In the United States, the name Bach is the 3,620^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Bach is ranked the 1,294^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,358 people with that name. 2

Bach migration to the United States +

European migration to North America began in the mid-17th century and continued unabated until the mid-20th. Many Bavarians made the long trip to escape poverty or persecution based on their religious beliefs. The chance for tenant farmers to own their own land was also a major drawing card. They settled all across the United States in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many came to Canada also, settling in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Analysis of immigration records has shown some of the first Bachs to arrive in North America, and among them were:

Bach Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Jos Bach, who landed in Virginia in 1635 3
Thomas Bach, who settled in Virginia in 1638

Bach Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Gabriel Bach, who settled in Georgia in 1734
Johan Bach, who settled in Philadelphia in 1744
Andreas Bach, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1768

Bach Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mr. Albert Bach, aged 33, German settler who arrived in New York in 1893 aboard the ship "La Gascogne", heading to Utica 4
Mrs. Rosina Bach, aged 23, German settler who arrived in New York in 1893 aboard the ship "La Gascogne", heading to Utica 5
Mr. Hans Bach, aged 30, German settler who arrived in New York in 1893 aboard the ship "La Gascogne" 6
Mr. Ludwig Bach, aged 20, German settler who arrived in New York in 1893 aboard the ship "Werkendam" 7

Bach migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Bach Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Harriet Bach, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1863 8
Alfred Bach, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1863 8
Thomas Bach, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1863 8
Mrs. Harriet Bach, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Gertrude" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 9th February 1863 9
Mr. Alfred Bach, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Gertrude" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 9th February 1863 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Bach (post 1700) +

Sheldon Bach (1925-2021), American psychologist and psychoanalyst based in New York City
John William "Johnny" Bach (1924-2016), American professional basketball player and coach
Barbara Bach (b. 1947), American actress and model known as the Bond girl from the James Bond movie The Spy Who Loved Me
August Bach, German politician in the former East German government
Wilhelm Friedmann Bach (1710-1784), German composer, eldest son and pupil of Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach (1732-1795), German composer, ninth son of Johann Sebastian Bach
Jean-François Bach (1940-2023), French medical professor, biologist and immunologist, Secrétaire perpétuel honoraire of the Académie des sciences
Adela Christian Bach Bottino (1959-2019), Argentine-Mexican actress and producer of telenovelas
André Bach (1943-2017), French general and historian
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), prolific German composer whos works include: Brandenburg concertos; the Goldberg Variations; the English Suites; the Mass in B Minor; the St Matthew Passion; and many more

Historic Events for the Bach family +

Bismarck

Werner Bach (1922-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 10

Empress of Ireland

Miss Edith Christina Bach (1874-1914), American Second Class Passenger from Rochester, Minnesota, United States who survived the sinking on the Empress of Ireland 11
Mr. Reinholdt Bach (1836-1914), American Second Class Passenger from Rochester, Minnesota, United States who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 11

The Bach Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: In cruce spes mea
Motto Translation: In the cross is my hope.

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Germans to America retrieved 21st October 2021. Retrieved from Glazier, Ira. A., and Filby, P. William. Germans to America: Lists of Passengers Arriving at U.S. Ports. Vol. 62, Scholarly Resources Inc, 2022
Germans to America retrieved 21st October 2021. Retrieved from Glazier, Ira. A., and Filby, P. William. Germans to America: Lists of Passengers Arriving at U.S. Ports. Vol. 62, Scholarly Resources Inc, 2023
Germans to America retrieved 21st October 2021. Retrieved from Glazier, Ira. A., and Filby, P. William. Germans to America: Lists of Passengers Arriving at U.S. Ports. Vol. 62, Scholarly Resources Inc, 2044
Germans to America retrieved 21st October 2021. Retrieved from Glazier, Ira. A., and Filby, P. William. Germans to America: Lists of Passengers Arriving at U.S. Ports. Vol. 62, Scholarly Resources Inc, 2074
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html