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

Beneski, 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 Beneski surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Beneski in America

Beneski is the 140756th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Beneski surname appeared 109 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Beneski.

The history of the last name Beneski

The surname Beneski is of Eastern European origin, specifically hailing from regions that are presently part of Poland and the Czech Republic. The name likely emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century. These areas were part of a broader Slavic region, where surnames often developed from given names, patronymic traditions, or geographical features.

Beneski appears to be derived from the root name "Benes," a diminutive or variation of the given name Benedikt or Benediktus, which means "blessed" in Latin. This root name was widespread during the Middle Ages, especially following the canonization of saints like Saint Benedict. The suffix "-ski" is a common Polish and Slavic suffix, indicating "of" or "belonging to," which ties the name to a particular family or locality.

The earliest recorded examples of the surname Beneski can be traced back to medieval records and parish registers in Poland. Manuscripts from the 15th century in the Silesian region show multiple mentions of the name in various spellings such as Beniski, Beneszki, and Beneski. These records often pertained to land ownership and local governance, indicating that the bearers of the name were landowners or had some standing within their communities.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Beneski is Jan Beneski, born in 1452, a landowner recorded in the archives of Wrocław. His presence in historical records suggests that the family had established some prominence in the Silesian region by the late 15th century. Another notable figure, Petrus Beneski, born in 1508, is mentioned in church documents as a local parish priest in what is now southern Poland.

By the 17th century, the surname appears in Czech lands as well, with Mikuláš Beneski, born in 1625, who was noted for being a member of the Hussite movement, a pre-Reformation religious group. His participation in local conflicts and religious reforms is documented in contemporary chronicles.

During the 18th century, the name continued to be associated with individuals of varying societal roles. For instance, Józef Beneski, born in 1760, was a noted craftsman in the town of Kraków, Poland. Records from local guilds and tax registers highlight his contributions to the local economy through his skilled craftsmanship in metalworks.

In the 19th century, with social and political upheavals in Eastern Europe, the surname Beneski gained some measure of academic renown through the work of Mátyás Beneski, born in 1822, a historian and author. His works on Slavic heritage and medieval history remain part of academic discourse.

Beneski is a surname that has traversed centuries, reflecting the cultural and historical dynamics of Eastern Europe. Its bearers have played roles ranging from landowners and priests to craftsmen and scholars, painting a vivid tapestry of historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Beneski

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Beneski 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 Beneski was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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