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

Benejan, 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 Benejan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Benejan in America

Benejan is the 143149th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Benejan surname appeared 116 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 Benejan.

The history of the last name Benejan

The surname BENEJAN is believed to have originated in the Basque region of northern Spain and southern France during the medieval period. It is derived from the Basque words "bene" meaning "good" and "jan" meaning "to eat," suggesting the name may have been associated with someone who enjoyed good food or had a reputation for hospitality.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name BENEJAN can be found in a 14th-century document from the town of Bayonne, where a certain Juan de BENEJAN was listed as a landowner. This region, straddling the modern-day border between France and Spain, has a long history of Basque culture and language.

In the 16th century, the name appears in records from the town of Lesaka in Navarre, Spain, where a family of BENEJANS owned a prominent vineyard. It is possible that the name's association with food and drink stems from this connection to wine-making.

Throughout the centuries, variations in spelling have emerged, such as BENEJAN, BENEYAN, and BENEHAYAN, reflecting regional dialects and linguistic influences.

Notable historical figures with the surname BENEJAN include:

1. Pedro de BENEJAN (c. 1520-1590), a Spanish explorer and navigator who accompanied Juan de la Cosa on voyages to the Caribbean and South America.

2. María de BENEJAN (c. 1565-1632), a Basque poet and writer known for her poetry collection "Cancionero de María de BENEJAN," which provided insight into the cultural and literary traditions of the region.

3. Juan de BENEJAN y Arteaga (1638-1712), a Spanish military officer and governor of the Philippine Islands from 1701 to 1706.

4. Martín de BENEJAN (1792-1875), a Mexican lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Supreme Court of Justice during the reign of Emperor Maximilian I.

5. Emilia BENEJAN (1856-1932), a Basque artist known for her intricate wood carvings and sculptures, many of which depicted traditional Basque culture and folklore.

While the surname BENEJAN is not among the most common in the world today, it carries a rich history and cultural significance rooted in the Basque regions of Spain and France, reflecting traditions of hospitality, food, and artistic expression.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Benejan

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

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

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

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