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

Bencker, 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 Bencker surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bencker in America

Bencker is the 144141st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bencker surname appeared 115 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 Bencker.

The history of the last name Bencker

The surname BENCKER has its origins in Germany, dating back to the medieval period around the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word "benke," which referred to a bench or a long seat. This occupational surname was likely given to a carpenter or woodworker who specialized in crafting benches or similar wooden furniture.

The earliest recorded instances of the BENCKER surname can be traced back to historical documents and records from various regions of Germany, such as Bavaria and Saxony. In the town of Nuremberg, a certain Hans Bencker was mentioned in a 1492 manuscript as a skilled craftsman responsible for creating intricate wooden benches for local churches and noble households.

During the 16th century, the BENCKER surname gained prominence in the city of Hamburg, where a family of woodworkers and furniture makers established themselves as respected artisans. Notably, Johann Bencker (1545-1617) was renowned for his exceptional craftsmanship and contributed to the design and construction of ornate benches and pews for the city's grand cathedrals.

In the 18th century, a branch of the BENCKER family migrated to the region of Westphalia, where they continued their woodworking traditions. One prominent figure was Friedrich Bencker (1720-1789), who gained recognition for his skill in creating elaborately carved benches and chairs for local nobility and wealthy merchants.

Another notable figure bearing the BENCKER surname was Anna Bencker (1805-1878), a German-born artist renowned for her exquisite woodcarving and sculpting abilities. Her artworks, which often featured intricately carved benches and furniture, were highly sought after by collectors and patrons across Europe.

As the surname spread throughout German-speaking regions, variations in spelling emerged, such as Benker, Benckers, and Benkert. Despite these variations, the core meaning and origin of the name remained closely tied to the skilled craft of woodworking and furniture making.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bencker

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

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

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

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