Bench
An occupational surname referring to a person who worked at a bench, such as a carpenter or judge.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 3,530 Americans carry the last name Bench. That puts it at #10,565 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 97,098 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bench 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
3.5K
1 in 97,098
Census rank
#10,565
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
3.0K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 3,033 bearers of the surname Bench in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 10565th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bench, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.3%) and Two or More Races (2.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bench
The surname Bench is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be an occupational name, derived from the Old English word "benc," meaning a long seat or bench. This suggests that the name was originally given to someone who made or worked with benches, perhaps a carpenter or a woodworker.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bench can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it is listed as "Benc." This suggests that the name was already in use by the 13th century. In the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset from 1327, the name appears as "Atte Benche," which further reinforces its occupational origins.
The Bench surname is also linked to various place names in England, such as Bench Farm in Hertfordshire and Bench Meadow in Oxfordshire. These place names likely originated from the presence of benches or benched areas in those locations.
Several notable individuals have borne the Bench surname throughout history. One of the earliest was John Bench (c. 1300-1367), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Bedfordshire in the 14th century. Another prominent figure was William Bench (1470-1545), a wealthy English merchant and benefactor who founded the Bench's Charity in Middlesex.
In the 17th century, Samuel Bench (1622-1693) was an English Puritan minister and author, known for his work "A Briefe Description of the Last Voyage of Sir Francis Drake." Thomas Bench (1670-1738) was an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Wyton in Huntingdonshire.
More recently, Francis Elgar Bench (1801-1863) was an English artist and illustrator, renowned for his landscapes and portraits. He exhibited works at the Royal Academy and the British Institution.
Despite its English origins, the Bench surname has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, carried by descendants of early English settlers and immigrants.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bench
Among Census respondents with the surname Bench, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.3%) and Two or More Races (2.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Bench 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 Bench surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White90.8%
- Hispanic or Latino3.3%
- Two or more races2.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native2.1%
- Black or African American0.9%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Bench 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 | #10,565 | #10,565 | 0.0% |
| Count | 3,033 | 3,033 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 1.03 | 1.03 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Bench bearers went from 3,033 to 3,033 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #10,565 to #10,565.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Bench
FAQ
Bench surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Bench?
The surname Bench holds position #10,565 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 3,530 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.03 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Bench surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bench, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.3%) and Two or More Races (2.3%). 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.