Bening
A surname derived from the German word "benning," meaning "living on a pasture."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 274 Americans carry the last name Bening. That puts it at #79,075 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.08 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,250,928 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bening surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
274
1 in 1,250,928
Census rank
#79,075
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
241
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 241 bearers of the surname Bening in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.08 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 79075th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bening, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.4%. The next largest groups are Black (2.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bening
The surname Bening originated in Germany, with the earliest known records dating back to the 12th century. The name is derived from the Old German word "bene," which means "flat" or "level," and likely referred to a person who lived on a flat or level piece of land.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bening can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of medieval documents from the region of Saxony, where a certain Heinrich Bening is mentioned in a charter from 1198. The name also appears in various other medieval records from different parts of Germany, such as the Würzburg Codex from the 13th century.
In the 14th century, the name Bening was particularly prevalent in the city of Nuremberg, where several prominent individuals bore this surname. One notable example is Johann Bening, a renowned manuscript illuminator who lived from around 1415 to 1475. His work can be found in various medieval manuscripts, including the famous Grimani Breviary, which is now housed in the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana in Venice.
Another significant figure with the surname Bening was Johann Bening the Younger, who was also a manuscript illuminator and lived from around 1490 to 1530. He was the son of Johann Bening and carried on the family tradition of illuminating manuscripts for nobility and religious institutions.
In the 16th century, the name Bening was found in various parts of Germany, as well as in neighboring regions such as Austria and Switzerland. One notable bearer of the name was Georg Bening, a scholar and theologian who lived from 1522 to 1589 and served as a professor at the University of Ingolstadt.
The surname Bening also has variations in spelling, such as Benning, Bennig, and Benninger, which can be found in historical records from different regions of Germany and other parts of Europe. Some of these variations may have originated from different dialects or regional pronunciations of the name.
Overall, the surname Bening has a rich history that spans several centuries and is deeply rooted in the German language and culture. While the name may have evolved and spread to other parts of the world over time, its origins can be traced back to medieval Germany, where it was associated with influential individuals in various fields, including the arts, academia, and religion.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bening
Among Census respondents with the surname Bening, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.4%. The next largest groups are Black (2.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Bening bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Bening surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.4%
- Black or African American2.1%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Bening surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #79,075 | #79,075 | 0.0% |
| Count | 241 | 241 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.08 | 0.08 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Bening bearers went from 241 to 241 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #79,075 to #79,075.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Bening
FAQ
Bening surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Bening?
The surname Bening holds position #79,075 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 274 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.08 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Bening surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bening, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.4%. The next largest groups are Black (2.1%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.