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The origin of the Baker surname is thought to be Anglo-Saxon and have come from the English-Scottish border region, though it is common enough to have spread across Britain and the English-speaking world. Baker is an occupational name, coming from the Old English word 'baecere', which means to dry with heat. Early holders may not have only baked bread, and may also have owned a communal oven. The term 'bakster' was the female form of this, and variants have arisen along the same lines.
The gaelic form of Baker in Scotland and Ireland is Mac a' Bhacstair. Some people with the surname have used DNA to trace their origins to Celtic countries and specifically to the Baxter sept of the Clan MacMillan in Scotland. It is an occupational name, which originated before the 8th century CE, from the name of the trade, baker. From the Middle English bakere and Old English bæcere, a derivation of bacan, meaning "to dry by heat". The bearer of this name may not only have been a baker of bread. The name was also used for others involved with baking in some way, including the owner of a communal oven in humbler communities. The female form of the name is Baxter, which is seen more in Scotland. The German form of the name is Bäcker.
The name, Baker, appeared in many references, and from time to time, the surname was spelt Baker, Bakere and these changes in spelling frequently occurred within the family name. Scribes and church officials spelt the name as it sounded, and frequently the spelling changed even during the person's own lifetime. The family name Baker entered Britain with the Anglo-Saxons, who traditionally are said to have settled Britain from the 5th century CE, although Germanic communities were already well established in Britain long before this time.
The form Bakster was originally feminine, with Baker as the masculine equivalent, but over time both names came to apply to both men and women.
Some variations include: Bäcker, Baecker Bakere, Baiker, Backer, Bakker, Bakster, Baxstar, Baxstair, Baxtare, Baxter, Boulanger, Ekmekci, Farina, Forni, Kalashnikov, Panadero, Pek, Piekarski, Psomas