BENSON
The surname Benson is a traditional English surname that originates from the British Isles, specifically England. It is commonly associated with Christian communities and is traditionally written in the English language.
Its earliest etymology can be traced to the Old English personal name Benn or Benne, which denoted a bear cub or was understood as the son of a man named Benne. In a parallel tradition the name may have arisen as a patronymic from the medieval given name Benedict, itself derived from the Latin Benedictus meaning “blessed.” Consequently, the surname may have been adopted either as a nickname for a bear cub or as an identifier for someone who was the son of a Benne or a Benedict.
Alternatively, Benson may have been a locational surname taken from the hamlet of Benson in Oxfordshire. The place name itself is believed to derive from the Olde-English pre-7th century “Benesingtun,” a settlement associated with a man named Banesa – a personal name of obscure origin that may have been a derivative of Bana, meaning slayer, and the Olde-English tun, meaning settlement.
The first documented spelling of the family name is that of John Benneson, dated to 1326 in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield, Yorkshire. This record appears during the reign of King Edward the First, known as Edward of Caernarfon, who reigned from 1307 to 1327.
Several heraldic bearings have been associated with individuals bearing the surname. Over ten coats of arms have been granted, the earliest of which features a silver field with a black chevron bearing three crossed formee in gold. The crest consists of a sun surrounded by a rainbow, the ends of which issue from the clouds in all proper colours.
The surname’s reach extended beyond England when an early namebearer, Henry Benson, settled in the American colonies. He is recorded in a muster of inhabitants in Virginia in 1624 and arrived in the colony aboard the Francis Bonaventure in August 1620.
Typical given names associated with the Benson surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
Female
- Anne
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Jacqueline
- Joanne
- Julie
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Bennison
- Banson
- Banzon
- Bansen
- Bahnsen
- Beinson
- Beanson
- Bainson
- Beensen
- Benso
- Banjson
- Bansom
- Baunson
- Bemson
- Benazon
- Bencini
- Benenson
- Beneson
- Bengon
- Benigson
- Beninson
- Benison
- Benissan
- Benneson
- Bennoson
- Bennson
- Benon
- Benoon
- Bensen
- Bensimon
- Bensom
- Benston
- Benton
- Bentson
- Benyson
- Benziane
- Benzin
- Benzina
- Benzine
- Benzion
- Benzo
- Benzon
- Benzoni
- Benzynie
- Binison
- Binnison
- Binson
- Boanson
- Bonacina
- Bonacini
- Bonnesen
- Bonnison
- Bonsen
- Bonson
- Bonzon
- Bugnosen
- Bunsen
- Bunson
- Bensohn
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Benson in...
Braille
⠃⠑⠝⠎⠕⠝
Morse
-....-....----.
Semaphore
There are approximately 17,812 people named Benson in the UK. That makes it the 493rd most common surname in Britain. Around 274 in a million people in Britain are named Benson.
Surname type: From name of parent
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Benson
- Gale Benson - Model (1944 to 1972)
- Perry Benson - Actor
- Ashley Benson - Actress and model
- E. F. Benson - Novelist (1867 to 1940)
- Kimberly Benson - Scottish professional wrestler
- Richard Benson - Guitarist, singer, songwriter
- Martin Benson - Actor (1918 to 2010)
- Peter Benson - Actor (1943 to 2018)
- Frank Benson - Actor (1858 to 1939)
- Mark Benson - Cricket player of England.
- David Benson - Actor and comedian
- Paul Benson - Football player
- Edward White Benson - Archbishop of Canterbury (1829 to 1896)
- Stella Benson - Writer (1892 to 1933)
- Craig Benson - Swimmer, Olympic athlete
- Godfrey Benson, 1st Baron Charnwood - Politician (1864 to 1945)
- Harry Benson - Photographer
- Ross Benson - Journalist (1948 to 2005)
- Joseph Benson - Methodist minister (1749 to 1821)
- George Benson - Actor (1911 to 1983)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.