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

Benfante, 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 Benfante surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Benfante in America

Benfante is the 78821st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Benfante surname appeared 242 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 Benfante.

We can also compare 2010 data for Benfante 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 Benfante

The surname Benfante has its origins in Italy, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Italian phrase "ben fare," which translates to "do well" or "do good." This suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed upon individuals known for their virtuous deeds or commendable actions within their communities.

One of the earliest documented references to the Benfante name can be found in the 13th-century records of the Sicilian town of Monreale. These records mention a nobleman named Pietro Benfante, who held significant influence in the region during that time period.

As the name spread across Italy, it took on various spellings and regional variations. In the northern regions of the country, the name was sometimes spelled as "Benfanti," while in the central regions, it was often written as "Benfante."

During the Renaissance era, the Benfante family gained prominence in the city of Florence. Renowned artist and architect Filippo Benfante (1490-1560) was commissioned to design several notable buildings in the city, including the Church of San Lorenzo and the Palazzo Pitti.

In the 17th century, the name Benfante appeared in the historical records of the Kingdom of Naples. Andrea Benfante (1625-1697) was a prominent scholar and philosopher who authored several influential works on ethics and moral philosophy.

As Italians began to immigrate to other parts of the world, the Benfante name traveled with them. In the late 19th century, Giuseppe Benfante (1865-1932) emigrated from Sicily to the United States, becoming one of the earliest bearers of the name in the country.

Another notable individual with the Benfante surname was Maria Benfante (1920-2005), an Italian resistance fighter during World War II. She played a crucial role in the anti-fascist movement and was later awarded the prestigious Medaglia d'Oro al Valor Militare for her bravery.

Throughout its history, the Benfante name has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, ranging from artists and scholars to soldiers and activists, each contributing to the rich tapestry of the surname's legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Benfante

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

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

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

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