2000
#144,908
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 105
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Bences
A surname of Hungarian origin meaning 'Benedict' or 'blessed'.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 127 Americans carry the last name Bences. That puts it at #148,665 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,698,853 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bences 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
127
1 in 2,698,853
Census rank
#148,665
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
111
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 111 bearers of the surname Bences in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 148665th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bences, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 90.1%. The next largest groups are White (6.3%) and Black (2.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bences
The surname BENCES originated in Hungary, with its roots traced back to the 11th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old Hungarian word "bence," which means "monk" or "member of the Benedictine order." This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with individuals who were part of the Benedictine monastic tradition.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the BENCES surname can be found in a 13th-century manuscript from the region of Baranya, where it was spelled "Bencze." This document provides evidence of the name's presence in medieval Hungary and its potential connections to religious communities.
In the 15th century, a prominent figure named Benedek BENCES was a notable scholar and scribe in the court of King Matthias Corvinus. His work included transcribing and preserving valuable manuscripts, contributing to the preservation of knowledge during the Renaissance period.
During the 16th century, the BENCES family established themselves as landowners in the region of Zala, with records indicating their ownership of estates and vineyards. This suggests that the name had gained prominence and associated with nobility and landownership.
In the 18th century, Imre BENCES (1705-1778) was a renowned Hungarian painter and fresco artist, known for his works in churches and monasteries throughout the country. His artistic contributions left a lasting legacy in the cultural heritage of Hungary.
Another notable figure was István BENCES (1820-1894), a politician and jurist who served as a member of the Hungarian Parliament and played a significant role in the development of legal reforms during the 19th century.
The BENCES surname has also been associated with several villages and towns in Hungary, such as Bencéd in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county and Benczúrfalva in Baranya county, which were likely named after individuals or families bearing the BENCES name.
Throughout its history, the BENCES surname has maintained a strong presence in Hungary, with its origins rooted in the country's religious, cultural, and political traditions. The name continues to be carried by individuals of Hungarian descent, reflecting its enduring legacy and connection to the nation's rich heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bences
Among Census respondents with the surname Bences, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 90.1%. The next largest groups are White (6.3%) and Black (2.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Bences 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 Bences surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino90.1% · 100
- White6.3% · 7
- Black or African American2.7% · 3
- Two or more races0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Bences
Bences 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
+4 bearers (+3.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 5,544 places
2020
#148,665
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 111
+2 bearers (+1.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 1,787 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #144,908 | 105 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #150,452 | 109 | 0.04 | +4 bearers (+3.8%) | Down 5,544 places |
| 2020 | #148,665 | 111 | 0.04 | +2 bearers (+1.8%) | Up 1,787 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 Bences 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 | #148,665 | 1.2% |
| Count | 109 | 111 | 1.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -7.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Bences bearers went from 109 to 111 (+1.8% change). The surname moved up 1,787 positions in the national ranking, going from #150,452 to #148,665.
FAQ
Bences surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Bences?
Name Census estimates that about 127 living Americans carry the surname Bences. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,698,853 residents.
How common is Bences?
Bences ranks #148,665 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 111 people with the surname Bences. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (127), 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 Bences.
Has Bences become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Bences went from 109 recorded bearers to 111. That is an increase of 2 (+1.8%). In the national ranking it rose from #150,452 to #148,665.
What does the Census say about the background of Bences?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bences, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 90.1%. The next largest groups are White (6.3%) and Black (2.7%). 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?
Hispanic is the largest self-reported group for the surname Bences in the 2020 Census, accounting for 90.1% (100 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Bences appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Hispanic (90.1%), White (6.3%), Black (2.7%). 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 Bences (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 Bences mean?
A surname of Hungarian origin meaning 'Benedict' or 'blessed'. 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 Bences (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 many people have the surname Bences?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.