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

Benard, 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 Benard surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Benard in America

Benard is the 12812th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Benard surname appeared 2,407 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Benard.

We can also compare 2010 data for Benard 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 Benard

The surname Benard has its origins in France, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French name "Bernard," which is a compound word formed from the Germanic elements "bern" (bear) and "hard" (brave, hardy). This name was quite popular during the medieval period and was often given to boys in hopes that they would grow up to embody the strength and courage associated with bears.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Benard can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Bernard in the county of Wiltshire.

In the 12th century, a French nobleman named Bernard de Ventadour (c. 1135-1195) gained fame as a renowned troubadour and poet. His works, written in the Occitan language, have been influential in the development of courtly love literature.

During the 13th century, the name Benard appeared in various records across France, often associated with notable individuals. For instance, Bernard de Tramelay (c. 1230-1293) was a prominent Cistercian abbot and a respected scholar of his time.

In the 15th century, Bernard Palissy (c. 1510-1590), a French potter and naturalist, gained recognition for his innovative work in ceramics and his contributions to the understanding of fossils and geology.

Another notable figure with the surname Benard was Pierre Benard (1629-1698), a French engraver and printmaker who was particularly skilled in portraiture. His works are highly regarded for their technical excellence and attention to detail.

As the surname spread across Europe, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Bernhard, Bernardi, and Bernart, reflecting the linguistic influences of different regions. Place names like Bernay in Normandy, France, and Bernau in Germany also share a similar etymology, reflecting the widespread use of the name.

Throughout history, the surname Benard has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including artists, scholars, nobles, and craftsmen, contributing to the rich tapestry of cultural heritage across various regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Benard

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

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 Benard 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 Benard 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 Benard was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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