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

Benavidez, 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 Benavidez surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Benavidez in America

Benavidez is the 2849th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Benavidez surname appeared 12,648 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Benavidez.

We can also compare 2010 data for Benavidez 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 Benavidez

The surname Benavidez has its origins in Spain, tracing back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Spanish phrase "bien avenido," which translates to "well-received" or "well-favored." This suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed upon individuals who were held in high regard within their communities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Benavidez surname can be found in the Galician city of Santiago de Compostela, where a reference to a certain "Gonzalo Benavidez" appears in a 13th-century manuscript detailing pilgrimages to the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral.

During the 15th century, the Benavidez name gained prominence in the region of Asturias, with records indicating the existence of a noble family bearing this surname. Notably, Francisco Benavidez (1464-1534), a prominent military leader and statesman, served as the Governor of the Principality of Asturias under the reign of King Ferdinand II of Aragon.

As the Spanish Empire expanded its reach across the Atlantic, the Benavidez name found its way to the Americas. In the 16th century, Pedro Benavidez (1510-1587) became one of the first settlers in what is now modern-day New Mexico, establishing a legacy that would continue through successive generations.

Another noteworthy figure associated with the Benavidez surname was Fray Bernardo Benavidez (1628-1696), a Franciscan friar who played a significant role in the establishment of missions and the spread of Christianity in New Spain (present-day Mexico and the southwestern United States).

The name Benavidez has also been linked to the town of Benavidez, located in the Spanish province of Zamora. This connection suggests that the surname may have originated from this specific location, with early bearers potentially hailing from this area.

Throughout history, the Benavidez name has been carried by influential individuals across various fields, including Diego Benavidez (1808-1892), a Mexican military officer and politician who served as the Governor of Nuevo León, and Gregorio Benavidez (1892-1967), a renowned Mexican bullfighter celebrated for his artistry and courage in the bullring.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Benavidez

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

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

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

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