backström

Backström is a Swedish surname. It is a compound derived from elements meaning hill or slope (backe or bak) and stream (ström). The name is usually toponymic, indicating origin from a place characterized by a hillside and a stream. The spelling is variable: Backström is the unaccented form; Bäckström is a common variant with the umlaut, and Bakström is another variant found in some records. The prefix and suffix reflect a common pattern in Swedish surname formation, combining a geographical feature with a water-related element.

The name is most common in Sweden and among Swedish-speaking communities in Finland, with bearers found in other countries due to emigration and modern mobility. As a family name, Backström is part of a broader Nordic tradition of -ström surnames, distinguished by a combination of landscape features and water-related words.

There is no single internationally defined figure associated with the name; individuals bearing Backström have appeared in various fields within their respective regions and communities. The surname functions primarily as a family name rather than a place or organization. See also Bäckström and Bakström for closely related variants.