Benatar
A surname of Italian/Spanish origin meaning "good nature" or "good hearted."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 240 Americans carry the last name Benatar. That puts it at #87,663 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.07 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,428,143 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Benatar surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
240
1 in 1,428,143
Census rank
#87,663
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
212
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 212 bearers of the surname Benatar in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 87663rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Benatar, the largest self-reported group is White at 78.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (20.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Benatar
The surname Benatar has its origins in Spain, emerging in the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Spanish word "benatar," which means "pleasant place" or "fertile land." The name likely originated in the regions of Andalusia or Murcia, where Arabic influence on language and culture was significant during the Moorish occupation of the Iberian Peninsula.
Some historians suggest that the name Benatar may have been adopted by Sephardic Jews who lived in Spain before the Inquisition and subsequent expulsion in the late 15th century. The name's possible Arabic roots could indicate that it was initially used by Jews who had assimilated into the Moorish culture or had converted to Islam during that period.
The earliest recorded instances of the Benatar surname can be found in historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable example is a merchant named Isaac Benatar, who is mentioned in a trade record from the city of Seville in 1295. Another early reference is in a land deed from the town of Murcia, dated 1367, which lists a landowner named Yusuf Benatar.
As the Sephardic Jews faced persecution and expulsion from Spain in the late 15th century, many families bearing the Benatar name dispersed across the Mediterranean region, settling in places like Morocco, Italy, and the Ottoman Empire. Some may have eventually made their way to the Netherlands and other parts of Northern Europe as well.
In more recent history, several notable individuals have carried the Benatar surname. One example is the American singer-songwriter Pat Benatar, born Patricia Mae Andrzejewski in 1953. Her stage name was inspired by her husband's surname, which she adopted professionally. Another notable figure is the Israeli scholar and author Avraham Benatar, who lived from 1887 to 1979 and wrote extensively on Jewish history and culture.
Other notable bearers of the Benatar name include the British artist and illustrator David Benatar (1911-1988), the Mexican writer and journalist Carlos Benatar (1915-1998), and the Spanish philosopher and academic José Benatar (born 1935).
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Benatar
Among Census respondents with the surname Benatar, the largest self-reported group is White at 78.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (20.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Benatar bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Benatar surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White78.3%
- Hispanic or Latino20.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Benatar surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #87,663 | #87,663 | 0.0% |
| Count | 212 | 212 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Benatar bearers went from 212 to 212 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #87,663 to #87,663.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Benatar
FAQ
Benatar surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Benatar?
The surname Benatar holds position #87,663 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 240 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Benatar surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Benatar, the largest self-reported group is White at 78.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (20.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.