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

Benus, 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 Benus surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Benus in America

Benus is the 129619th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Benus surname appeared 121 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Benus.

The history of the last name Benus

The surname Benus is believed to originate from Central Europe, likely in the region that includes modern-day Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. It is a surname that may date back to the medieval period, possibly emerging between the 13th and 15th centuries. This region has a rich history of Slavic, Hungarian, and Germanic influences which could have contributed to the formation and evolution of the name Benus.

The etymology of the surname Benus is not entirely clear, but it might be linked to older Slavic or Latin words. One plausible derivation is from the Latin word "Benus" which means good or noble. It might also have connections to a place name or an occupational name that has since fallen out of common use. In medieval Latin documents and manuscripts, names like Benus might have referred to a person’s character or a specific role within the community.

Historical references to the surname Benus can be found in various archival records from the late medieval and Renaissance periods. For example, a Peter Benus is noted in a 14th-century land registry in what is now Slovakia. Additionally, a notable manuscript from the 15th century, part of the archives in Prague, a Jan Benus is mentioned as a local merchant who contributed to the town's economy.

The earliest recorded example of the surname Benus might date back to 1312, found in financial documents from the Kingdom of Hungary, listing a Miklos Benus as a taxpayer. This early reference suggests that the name was already established among the populace.

Throughout history, other individuals named Benus have appeared in various records. For instance, in the 17th century, a Martin Benus was recorded as a prominent landowner in the region that is now southwestern Slovakia. This indicates that the family held some socio-economic significance during that time.

In the 18th century, another notable figure was Adam Benus, born in 1734, who served as a local official in Transylvania, then part of the Habsburg Empire. He was known for his efforts in land reform and local administration, indicating the continued prominence of the Benus name in regional affairs.

Another distinguished bearer of the name was Georg Benus, born 1801, a known educator and writer in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, who contributed to early educational reforms. His works were influential in the development of regional educational policies.

In the 19th century, a Thaddeus Benus, born in 1842, was recognized as a community leader and philanthropist in Bratislava, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. His contributions to public welfare and education remain documented in local histories of the area.

The surname Benus provides a fascinating glimpse into the socio-economic and cultural development of Central Europe through various historical periods, marked by the presence of individuals who played significant roles in their communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Benus

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Benus 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.

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

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

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