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

Bencze, 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 Bencze surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bencze in America

Bencze is the 75564th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bencze surname appeared 255 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 Bencze.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bencze 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 Bencze

The surname BENCZE originates from Hungary, with its roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Hungarian word "Bence," which is a variant of the Christian name "Benedict." This suggests that the BENCZE surname may have been initially adopted by individuals who either bore the name Benedict or had ancestors with that name.

The earliest recorded instances of the BENCZE surname can be found in medieval Hungarian documents and records. One notable reference is in the Regestrum Varadiense, a 14th-century collection of legal records from the Diocese of Várad (present-day Oradea, Romania). This document mentions a certain "Bencze filius Petri" (Bencze, son of Peter) in an entry dated 1376.

In the 15th century, the BENCZE surname appears in several towns and villages across Hungary. For example, a land deed from 1422 mentions a "Johannes dictus Bencze" (John called Bencze) as a landowner in the village of Nagyszombat (now Trnava, Slovakia). This indicates that the name had spread beyond its initial localized use and was being adopted by families in various regions.

One of the earliest notable individuals bearing the BENCZE surname was Pál Bencze, a Hungarian nobleman and landowner who lived in the late 16th century. Records show that he owned estates in the counties of Pest and Heves, and was a prominent figure in the local nobility.

Another historical figure was János Bencze, a Hungarian Protestant pastor and theologian who lived from 1614 to 1689. He was a prominent figure in the Reformed Church in Hungary and authored several religious works, including a translation of the Bible into Hungarian.

In the 18th century, the BENCZE surname can be found in various regions of the Habsburg Monarchy, including present-day Slovakia, Romania, and Croatia, reflecting the migration patterns of Hungarian families during that period.

A notable bearer of the name in the 19th century was József Bencze (1827-1891), a Hungarian politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Hungarian Parliament and was a vocal advocate for Hungarian independence from the Habsburg Empire.

Another individual of note was Lajos Bencze (1868-1937), a Hungarian painter and art teacher who was part of the Nagybánya artist colony, a influential group of Hungarian painters known for their plein-air style and depictions of rural life.

While the BENCZE surname has its origins in Hungary, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its historical roots and earliest recorded instances can be traced back to the medieval period in the Kingdom of Hungary and its surrounding regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bencze

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

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

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

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