Explore the Family Name Bacon
The meaning of Bacon
1. English (of Norman origin) and French: from the Norman French personal name Bacun, derived from the ancient Germanic name Bac(c)o, Bahho, based on the element bag ‘(to) fight, (to) dispute’. The name was relatively common among the Normans in the form Bacus, of which the oblique case was Bacon. 2. English and French: from Middle English, Old French bacun, bacon ‘bacon’ (a word of ancient Germanic origin, akin to Back 7), probably a metonymic occupational name for a preparer and seller of cured pork. History: Gilles Bacon from Normandy, France, is documented in Quebec City, QC, in 1647. — Michael Bacon from England arrived in Dedham, MA, in 1640. Nathanial Bacon, from Stratton, Cornwall, arrived in Barnstaple, MA, in 1639. Another Nathaniel Bacon (1647–76), from Friston Hall, Suffolk, emigrated to VA and settled at Curl’s Neck on the James river.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Bacon in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Bacon's popularity has seen a slight shift between 2000 and 2010. Its rank fell from 1094 to 1181, indicating a decrease of approximately 7.95%. However, the count of individuals carrying the Bacon surname increased by 1.87%, from 29,312 in 2000 to 29,860 in 2010. The proportion per 100,000 people also saw a decline of about 6.9%, dropping from 10.87 in 2000 to 10.12 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,094 | #1,181 | -7.95% |
| Count | 29,312 | 29,860 | 1.87% |
| Proportion per 100k | 10.87 | 10.12 | -6.9% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Bacon
In terms of ethnicity, the census data shows shifts in the distribution of the Bacon surname among different communities between 2000 and 2010. The largest growth was seen within the Asian/Pacific Islander and Two or more races groups, with increases of 29.17% and 63.24%, respectively. The Hispanic community also saw a significant rise of 59.72%. However, the White community, which held the majority of the Bacon surname, experienced a slight decrease of 2.88%. The Black community saw a minor increase of 1.72%, while the American Indian and Alaskan Native group noted a small decline of 1.57%. These changes reflect the dynamic nature of ethnic identity in America over a decade, as revealed by the Decennial U.S. Census.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 77.16% | 74.94% | -2.88% |
| Black | 18.05% | 18.36% | 1.72% |
| Hispanic | 1.44% | 2.3% | 59.72% |
| Two or More Races | 1.36% | 2.22% | 63.24% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.27% | 1.25% | -1.57% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.72% | 0.93% | 29.17% |
Bacon ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Bacon is British & Irish, which comprises 51.3% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (24.9%) and Eastern European (4.1%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, Nigerian, and Ashkenazi Jewish.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 51.3% |
| French & German | 24.9% |
| Eastern European | 4.1% |
| Other | 19.8% |
Possible origins of the surname Bacon
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Bacon have recent ancestry locations all within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 84.30% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 84.10% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 83.90% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 83.90% |
| Tyne And Wear, United Kingdom | 83.70% |
What Bacon haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Bacon is R-L48, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-L48 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-Z326 and I-P109, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Morse, North, George, Tyler, Ambrose, Keller, Ryder, Rider, Archer, Dobbs.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Bacon surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343
Your paternal lineage may be linked to King Louis XVI
The rule of France by men of the House of Bourbon began with King Henri IV in 1589 C.E. and continued until the beheading of his direct paternal descendant King Louis XVI in 1793. Several years ago, researchers analyzed a mummified head and a blood-soaked cloth that they believed might belong to the two kings, and concluded that the royal paternal line belonged to haplogroup G. In a more recent study, however, a different set of researchers tested three living men who are direct descendants of the Bourbon kings. Their efforts revealed that the male lineage of the House of Bourbon is actually a branch of haplogroup R-M405.
Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Bacon have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Bacon" Surname 38.7%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Bacon" Surname 30.2%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Bacon" Surname 19.2%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Bacon" Surname 20.0%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Bacon?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Bacon are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition