Find out how popular the last name Behney is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Behney.

Behney, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Behney surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Behney in America

Behney is the 42308th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Behney surname appeared 513 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Behney.

We can also compare 2010 data for Behney to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Behney

The surname Behney has its origins in Germany, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the German word "behne," which means "to walk or stride." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone with a distinctive gait or someone who was known for their walking or traveling abilities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Behney can be found in the town records of Heidelberg, Germany, where a Johann Behney was mentioned in 1588. The name also appears in various church records and tax rolls throughout the 17th and 18th centuries in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony.

Interestingly, the Behney surname has also been linked to the German word "bühne," which means "stage" or "platform." This connection could indicate that some early bearers of the name may have been associated with theatrical or performance-related professions.

In terms of historical references, the Behney name is mentioned in a few old manuscripts and chronicles from the 16th and 17th centuries in Germany. One notable example is the "Chronica Universalis" by Johann Carolus, which documents the lives of various notable individuals from that time period, including a Johann Philipp Behney, a merchant and trader from Frankfurt who lived between 1620 and 1687.

Among the notable individuals who have carried the Behney surname throughout history, some examples include:

1. Heinrich Behney (1712-1783), a German sculptor known for his intricate woodcarvings and religious artwork.
2. Elise Behney (1848-1928), a German-American educator and suffragette who advocated for women's rights and education reform.
3. Wilhelm Behney (1876-1952), a German-born American inventor who held patents for various mechanical and engineering innovations.
4. Maximilian Behney (1901-1968), a German-American artist and illustrator renowned for his landscape paintings and murals.
5. Gertrude Behney (1914-2003), an American author and historian who wrote extensively about the cultural heritage and traditions of Pennsylvania Dutch communities.

While the Behney surname may not be among the most common or widely recognized, its rich history and connections to various regions and professions in Germany and beyond make it a fascinating name to explore.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Behney

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Behney.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Behney was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Behney has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Behney was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Behney, please contact us.

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