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

Bennetch, 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 Bennetch surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bennetch in America

Bennetch is the 103655th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bennetch surname appeared 173 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 Bennetch.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bennetch 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 Bennetch

The surname Bennetch is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, specifically in the county of Somerset. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "benne" meaning "bent grass" and "hicc" meaning "ridge," suggesting that the name may have referred to someone who lived near a ridge covered with bent grass.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Benechicc." This entry suggests that the name was already well-established in Somerset by the late 11th century.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Benechiche, Benechych, and Bennechiche, as scribes and record-keepers adapted the name to their local dialects and writing styles.

In the 14th century, records show a Thomas Bennetch residing in the village of Cheddar, Somerset. This particular individual is notable for being one of the first recorded instances of the name in its modern spelling.

During the 16th century, the name gained prominence with the birth of Sir John Bennetch (1525-1598), a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in Somerset. Sir John's descendants played a significant role in the local politics and governance of the region for several generations.

Another notable figure was Elizabeth Bennetch (1670-1745), a renowned herbalist and midwife who practiced in the town of Bridgwater, Somerset. Her remedies and expertise were highly sought after, and she is credited with improving maternal and infant health in the region.

In the 18th century, William Bennetch (1723-1789) made his mark as a successful merchant and philanthropist in Bristol. He donated a substantial portion of his wealth to establish a school for underprivileged children, which still bears his name today.

The 19th century saw the birth of John Bennetch (1811-1887), a celebrated poet and writer who drew inspiration from the Somerset countryside. His works, particularly his poetry collection "Songs of the Mendips," captured the essence of rural life and earned him critical acclaim.

As the name spread beyond Somerset, it encountered various place name influences, leading to variations such as Bennitche (in Wiltshire) and Benniche (in Gloucestershire). However, the core spelling of Bennetch remained prevalent throughout its history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bennetch

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

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

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

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