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

Benoit, 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 Benoit surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Benoit in America

Benoit is the 1775th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Benoit surname appeared 20,160 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 7 people would have the surname Benoit.

We can also compare 2010 data for Benoit 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 Benoit

The surname Benoit has its origins in France and dates back to the Middle Ages. It derives from the Latin name Benedictus, which means "blessed." The name was commonly used as a personal name among medieval Christians and later evolved into a surname.

In the 11th century, the name Benoit appeared in the famous Domesday Book, a manuscript commissioned by William the Conqueror to record landholdings in England. This record suggests that individuals with this name may have migrated from France to England during the Norman Conquest.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Benoit was Etienne Benoit, a French philosopher and theologian who lived in the 12th century. He was known for his works on Christian ethics and contributed to the intellectual discourse of his time.

During the 13th century, the Benoit family established itself in the region of Normandy, France. Records from this period show several variations of the spelling, including Benoist, Benoît, and Benoit.

In the 14th century, Jean Benoit, a French poet and composer, gained recognition for his contributions to the development of polyphonic music. His works were widely disseminated throughout Europe and influenced subsequent generations of musicians.

The 16th century saw the rise of Pierre Benoit, a French Catholic priest and theologian who played a significant role in the Counter-Reformation. He was known for his efforts to promote Catholic doctrine and combat the spread of Protestantism in France.

In the 18th century, François Benoit, a French architect, gained fame for his work on the Petit Trianon, a small château located on the grounds of the Palace of Versailles. His architectural designs showcased the opulent style of the French Baroque period.

During the 19th century, Pierre-Victor Benoit, a Belgian composer and conductor, made significant contributions to the development of Romantic music. His compositions, including operas and orchestral works, were widely acclaimed and performed throughout Europe.

These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and achievements of individuals who have carried the surname Benoit throughout history, reflecting its French origins and its presence in various fields, including philosophy, theology, music, architecture, and literature.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Benoit

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

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

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

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