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

Bensimon, 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 Bensimon surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bensimon in America

Bensimon is the 70833rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bensimon surname appeared 276 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 Bensimon.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bensimon 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 Bensimon

The surname BENSIMON originated in France, specifically in the southern region of Provence. It is believed to have emerged in the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. The name is derived from the Hebrew phrase "Ben Shimon," which translates to "son of Simon." This suggests that the earliest bearers of the BENSIMON surname were likely of Jewish descent, possibly descendants of individuals who had adopted the given name Simon or variations thereof.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the BENSIMON name can be found in the archives of the city of Marseille, where a certain Abraham BENSIMON is mentioned in a document dated 1482. This suggests that members of the BENSIMON family had already established a presence in the region by the late 15th century.

In the 16th century, the BENSIMON name appears in various records related to the Jewish community of Avignon, another major city in Provence. One notable figure from this period was Joseph BENSIMON, a prominent rabbi and scholar who lived in Avignon during the latter half of the 1500s.

As the BENSIMON family spread throughout France and beyond, the name underwent various spelling variations, including BENSIMHON, BENSEMON, and BENSIMOUN. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and linguistic differences.

In the 17th century, a branch of the BENSIMON family settled in the city of Bordeaux, where they became involved in the local wine trade. One influential member of this branch was Isaac BENSIMON, a successful merchant and vintner who lived from 1645 to 1712.

The 18th century saw the emergence of several notable figures bearing the BENSIMON surname. Among them was Jacob BENSIMON (1718-1789), a prominent rabbi and scholar from the city of Carpentras. Another significant figure was David BENSIMON (1760-1832), a merchant and philanthropist from Marseille who played a crucial role in supporting the local Jewish community.

As the BENSIMON name continued to spread throughout France and beyond, it became associated with various professions and fields of endeavor. In the 19th century, for instance, there was Léon BENSIMON (1825-1901), a French painter and illustrator known for his depictions of Parisian life.

Throughout its long history, the BENSIMON surname has been borne by numerous individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields, including religion, commerce, the arts, and academia. While the name may have originated from humble beginnings in the Jewish communities of Provence, it has since become a part of the rich tapestry of French and global cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bensimon

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

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

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

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