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

Benedit, 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 Benedit surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Benedit in America

Benedit is the 114424th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Benedit surname appeared 153 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 Benedit.

We can also compare 2010 data for Benedit 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 Benedit

The surname BENEDIT is believed to have originated in Spain during the medieval period. It is derived from the Latin name "Benedictus," which means "blessed." This name was commonly given to children born on religious feast days or to those who were considered a blessing to their families.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname BENEDIT can be found in the Catalan region of Spain, where it was spelled "Beneït" in the 13th century. This variant spelling reflects the influence of the Catalan language on the name's evolution.

In the 14th century, the BENEDIT surname appeared in various historical records in the regions of Aragon and Valencia. One notable example is the mention of a certain Juan Beneït in a document from the city of Valencia, dated 1376.

As the name spread throughout Spain, it also underwent further variations in spelling, such as "Beneyto" and "Benedicto." These changes were likely influenced by regional dialects and the phonetic preferences of different areas.

During the 16th century, the BENEDIT surname gained prominence in the Basque region of Spain. One notable figure from this time was Pedro Benedit, a renowned sculptor and architect who was born in Bilbao in 1535 and contributed to the construction of several churches and cathedrals in the region.

In the 17th century, the name BENEDIT crossed the Atlantic with Spanish colonists and settlers. One of the earliest recorded instances in the Americas is that of Juan Benedit, a soldier and explorer who accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expedition to Mexico in 1519.

Another notable bearer of the BENEDIT surname was Pascual Benedit, a Valencian painter born in 1675. His works, primarily religious paintings, can still be found in various churches and museums throughout Spain.

During the 18th century, the name BENEDIT gained prominence in the field of literature. One of the most celebrated figures was José Benedit y Huarte, a Spanish writer and poet born in Zaragoza in 1735. His works, which included plays and poems, were widely acclaimed during his lifetime.

In the 19th century, the BENEDIT surname continued to be represented in various fields. One notable figure was Ramón Benedit, a Spanish military officer and politician who served as the Governor of Puerto Rico from 1848 to 1851.

As the BENEDIT surname spread across different regions and countries, it continued to undergo variations in spelling and pronunciation. However, its connection to the Latin root "Benedictus" and its association with blessings and religious connotations remained a common thread throughout its history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Benedit

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

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

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

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