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

Benca, 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 Benca surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Benca in America

Benca is the 159712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Benca surname appeared 101 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 Benca.

The history of the last name Benca

The surname Benca has its origins in the Slovenian and Croatian regions of Eastern Europe, dating back to the early 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Slavic word "benka," which means "small stream" or "brook." This suggests that the name may have initially been given to someone who lived near a small watercourse or a person who worked in an occupation related to streams or water sources.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Benca can be found in the archives of the city of Ljubljana, Slovenia, where a document from 1532 mentions a certain Ivan Benca, a merchant and landowner. Another notable early reference is from the Croatian city of Rijeka, where a census record from 1598 lists a family headed by Petar Benca, a fisherman.

In the 17th century, the Benca name began to spread throughout the Slovenian and Croatian regions, with several individuals bearing this surname appearing in various historical records. For instance, in 1642, a man named Janez Benca is recorded as a member of the town council in the Slovenian town of Škofja Loka. Meanwhile, in the Croatian town of Varaždin, a document from 1678 mentions a certain Mihovil Benca, a skilled carpenter.

As time progressed, the Benca surname became more prominent, and several notable individuals emerged. One of the earliest was Josip Benca (1717-1784), a renowned Slovenian scholar and linguist who contributed significantly to the preservation and study of the Slovenian language. Another prominent figure was Matija Benca (1786-1858), a Croatian politician and writer who played a crucial role in the Illyrian movement, which aimed to unite the South Slavic peoples.

In the 19th century, the Benca name gained further recognition with the birth of Fran Benca (1825-1901), a Slovenian poet and playwright whose works helped shape the country's literary tradition. Another notable individual from this period was Ivan Benca (1846-1918), a Croatian engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the field of mechanical engineering.

As the 20th century dawned, the Benca surname continued to be represented by influential figures, such as Stjepan Benca (1901-1978), a Croatian artist and sculptor whose works are celebrated for their unique style and cultural significance. Additionally, Marija Benca (1920-2005), a Slovenian writer and activist, gained recognition for her efforts in promoting women's rights and social justice.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Benca

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

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 Benca 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.

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

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

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