Bennet
A patronymic surname derived from the medieval personal name Benedict, meaning "blessed."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 4,079 Americans carry the last name Bennet. That puts it at #9,237 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.19 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 84,029 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bennet 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
4.1K
1 in 84,029
Census rank
#9,237
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
3.5K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 3,523 bearers of the surname Bennet in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.19 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 9237th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bennet, the largest self-reported group is White at 71.7%. The next largest groups are Black (19.9%) and Hispanic (3.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bennet
The surname Bennet is of Old French origin, derived from the personal name Benedict, which itself comes from the Latin "Benedictus" meaning "blessed". It is believed to have been introduced to England by Norman settlers after the conquest of 1066.
The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the late 12th century, appearing in various forms such as Benet, Benett, and Benet. One of the earliest known references is found in the Pipe Rolls of Warwickshire from 1195, where a William Benet is mentioned.
During the Middle Ages, the name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire. This is likely due to its Norman origins, as these areas were heavily influenced by the Norman aristocracy.
In the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are no direct mentions of the Bennet surname. However, there are references to landholders with the given name Benedict, suggesting that the surname may have derived from some of these individuals.
One notable early bearer of the Bennet name was Sir William Bennet, who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1408. Another was Thomas Bennet, a 16th-century English composer and organist who served at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford.
In the 17th century, the Bennet family played a significant role in the English Civil War. Sir John Bennet (1598-1682) was a staunch Royalist and served as a military commander under King Charles I. His son, Henry Bennet (1618-1685), was a prominent politician and diplomat who served as Secretary of State under Charles II.
The 18th century saw the rise of the celebrated playwright and author, Anna Laetitia Barbauld (née Aikin), who was born in 1743 and married Rochemont Barbauld, taking his surname. Her works, such as "Poems" and "Evenings at Home", were widely acclaimed during her lifetime.
In the 19th century, James Gordon Bennet (1795-1872) was a prominent American journalist and publisher who founded the New York Herald newspaper. His son, James Gordon Bennet Jr. (1841-1918), also made a name for himself as a newspaper publisher and explorer.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bennet
Among Census respondents with the surname Bennet, the largest self-reported group is White at 71.7%. The next largest groups are Black (19.9%) and Hispanic (3.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Bennet 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 Bennet surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White71.7%
- Black or African American19.9%
- Hispanic or Latino3.6%
- Two or more races2.0%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.8%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.0%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Bennet 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 | #9,237 | #9,237 | 0.0% |
| Count | 3,523 | 3,523 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 1.19 | 1.19 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Bennet bearers went from 3,523 to 3,523 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #9,237 to #9,237.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Bennet
FAQ
Bennet surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Bennet?
The surname Bennet holds position #9,237 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 4,079 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.19 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Bennet surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bennet, the largest self-reported group is White at 71.7%. The next largest groups are Black (19.9%) and Hispanic (3.6%). 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.