2000
#133,114
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 117
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Benander
A Swedish surname derived from the given name Benedict.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 132 Americans carry the last name Benander. That puts it at #145,757 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,596,624 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Benander surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
132
1 in 2,596,624
Census rank
#145,757
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
115
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 115 bearers of the surname Benander in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 145757th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Benander, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.3%) and Black (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Benander
The surname Benander has its origins in Scandinavia, specifically in Sweden, where it first emerged in the 17th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old Swedish word "bänande," which means "to bend" or "to curve," likely referring to a person's occupation or physical characteristic.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Benander surname can be found in the parish records of Västergötland, a historical province in southwestern Sweden, dating back to the late 1600s. The name was particularly prevalent in the regions of Västergötland and Småland during this time period.
In the 18th century, the Benander surname appeared in several historical documents and records, including the Swedish Census of 1790, where it was listed among the residents of the town of Jönköping. This suggests that the name had already established itself as a prominent surname in certain areas of Sweden by that time.
One notable individual bearing the Benander surname was Johan Benander, a Swedish clergyman and author who lived from 1685 to 1757. He served as a parish priest in the town of Hova and was known for his theological writings, including a collection of sermons published in 1738.
Another prominent figure was Nils Benander, a Swedish military officer who fought in the Great Northern War (1700-1721) against Russia. He was born in 1678 and served as a captain in the Swedish army, distinguishing himself in several battles during the conflict.
In the 19th century, the Benander surname continued to be found in various parts of Sweden, with some individuals emigrating to other countries, such as the United States and Canada. One such individual was Carl Benander, born in 1842 in the town of Mjölby, who later immigrated to the United States and settled in Minnesota in the late 1800s.
Elsa Benander, a Swedish opera singer born in 1879, was also a notable figure who carried the Benander surname. She performed in several operas in Sweden and other European countries during the early 20th century and was renowned for her soprano voice.
The Benander surname has its roots deeply embedded in Swedish history, with its origins likely stemming from an occupational or descriptive term related to bending or curving. While it may not be among the most common Swedish surnames, it has been present in various regions of the country for several centuries and has been carried by individuals who have made their mark in various fields, from religion and military service to the arts.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Benander
Among Census respondents with the surname Benander, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.3%) and Black (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Benander bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Benander surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.3% · 105
- Hispanic or Latino4.3% · 5
- Black or African American1.7% · 2
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.7% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Benander
Benander appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#150,452
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 109
-8 bearers (-6.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 17,338 places
2020
#145,757
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 115
+6 bearers (+5.5%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 4,695 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #133,114 | 117 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #150,452 | 109 | 0.04 | -8 bearers (-6.8%) | Down 17,338 places |
| 2020 | #145,757 | 115 | 0.04 | +6 bearers (+5.5%) | Up 4,695 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Benander surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #150,452 | #145,757 | 3.1% |
| Count | 109 | 115 | 5.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -3.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Benander bearers went from 109 to 115 (+5.5% change). The surname moved up 4,695 positions in the national ranking, going from #150,452 to #145,757.
FAQ
Benander surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Benander?
Name Census estimates that about 132 living Americans carry the surname Benander. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,596,624 residents.
How common is Benander?
Benander ranks #145,757 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 115 people with the surname Benander. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (132), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Benander.
Has Benander become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Benander went from 109 recorded bearers to 115. That is an increase of 6 (+5.5%). In the national ranking it rose from #150,452 to #145,757.
What does the Census say about the background of Benander?
Among Census respondents with the surname Benander, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.3%) and Black (1.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Benander in the 2020 Census, accounting for 91.3% (105 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Benander appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (91.3%), Hispanic (4.3%), Black (1.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Benander (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Benander mean?
A Swedish surname derived from the given name Benedict. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Benander (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How common is the surname Benander?
You can see how many people are called Benander on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.