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

Benecke, 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 Benecke surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Benecke in America

Benecke is the 38532nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Benecke surname appeared 574 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 Benecke.

We can also compare 2010 data for Benecke 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 Benecke

The surname Benecke has its origins in Germany, and it can be traced back to the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Low German word "benk," which refers to a bench or a long seat, often found in churches or guildhalls. It is believed that the name was initially used as an occupational surname for someone who worked as a bench maker or a carpenter.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Benecke can be found in the Lübeck city records, dating back to the 14th century. These records mention a certain Hinrich Benecke, who was a member of the local carpenters' guild.

In the 15th century, the name appeared in various regions of northern Germany, including the city of Bremen, where a merchant named Johann Benecke is mentioned in the city's trade records from the year 1487.

As the name spread throughout Germany, it also took on different spellings, such as Beneke, Benneke, and Bennecke. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and the way the name was pronounced in different areas.

One notable figure bearing the surname Benecke was Johann Albrecht Benecke, a German theologian and philosopher who lived from 1643 to 1708. He was a prominent figure in the Lutheran church and served as a professor at the University of Helmstedt.

Another noteworthy individual was Karl Benecke, a German philologist and linguist who lived from 1785 to 1871. He made significant contributions to the study of Middle High German and Old Saxon literature.

In the 19th century, the name Benecke can be found in various parts of Germany, as well as in areas where German immigrants settled. For example, August Benecke, a German-American brewer, established the Benecke and Nell Brewery in New York City in the 1840s.

Another prominent figure was Max Benecke, a German architect who lived from 1860 to 1928. He was known for his work on several important buildings in Berlin, including the Reichsbank and the Pergamon Museum.

While the surname Benecke may have originated as an occupational name related to bench making or carpentry, it eventually became a hereditary surname passed down through generations, regardless of the bearer's occupation.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Benecke

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

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

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

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