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

Benegas, 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 Benegas surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Benegas in America

Benegas is the 48060th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Benegas surname appeared 440 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 Benegas.

We can also compare 2010 data for Benegas 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 Benegas

The surname Benegas is of Spanish origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period in Spain. It is believed to have derived from the Spanish word "venegar," which means "to sell vinegar." This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname given to those involved in the production or sale of vinegar.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the "Libro de la Montería" (Book of the Hunt), written in the 14th century during the reign of King Alfonso XI of Castile. This historical document mentions a person named Pero Benegas, who was a huntsman in the service of the king.

The name Benegas can also be linked to various place names in Spain, such as Benegas de Salamanca, a municipality located in the province of Salamanca. It is possible that the surname may have originated from these locations or that individuals from these areas adopted the name.

Notable individuals with the surname Benegas include:

1. Doña Teresa Benegas (c. 1500s), a Spanish noblewoman and landowner during the 16th century.
2. Francisco Benegas (1633-1701), a Spanish Baroque painter known for his religious works in Andalusia.
3. Álvaro Benegas (1783-1856), a Spanish military officer and politician who served as the Governor of Cuba from 1848 to 1849.
4. Joaquín Benegas (1823-1897), a Spanish-born Mexican engineer and architect who designed several notable buildings in Mexico City.
5. Emilio Benegas (1904-1988), an Argentine politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship from 1963 to 1966.

Over the centuries, the Benegas surname has spread across various regions, including Latin America, where it continues to be prevalent, particularly in countries with strong Spanish heritage and influence.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Benegas

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

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

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

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