Benz
A German surname derived from the given name Benedict, meaning "blessed."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 6,615 Americans carry the last name Benz. That puts it at #6,038 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.93 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 51,815 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Benz 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
6.6K
1 in 51,815
Census rank
#6,038
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.9
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
5.7K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 5,691 bearers of the surname Benz in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.93 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 6038th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Benz, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.1%) and Two or More Races (1.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Benz
The surname Benz is of German origin and can be traced back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the German word "Bentz" or "Benz", which was a nickname derived from the personal name Benedikt or Bernhard. This nickname likely referred to someone who was blessed or prosperous.
The earliest recorded instances of the Benz surname can be found in various German church records and tax rolls from the 1500s and 1600s, particularly in the regions of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Some of the earliest known bearers of the name include Hans Benz, who was documented in a tax record in Nuremberg in 1568, and Jakob Benz, whose name appeared in a church register in Stuttgart in 1612.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Benz surname began to spread to other parts of Germany, as well as neighboring countries like Switzerland and Austria. One notable individual from this time period was Johann Benz (1654-1719), a German theologian and author who served as a pastor in Heidelberg.
During the 19th century, the Benz surname became more widely dispersed across Europe and beyond, as many German immigrants sought new opportunities in other parts of the world. One of the most famous individuals with this surname was Karl Benz (1844-1929), the pioneering German automobile engineer who is credited with inventing the modern gasoline-powered automobile in 1886. His Benz Patent-Motorwagen is considered the first practical, modern automobile.
Other notable individuals with the Benz surname include Hans Benz (1887-1972), a Swiss architect and urban planner; Ernst Benz (1907-1978), a German composer and conductor; and Marianne Benz (1914-1992), a German actress who appeared in numerous films and television productions throughout her career.
While the Benz surname has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to many other countries and cultures, carried by generations of immigrants and their descendants. Despite its widespread distribution, the name remains firmly connected to its German heritage and the legacy of innovation and achievement embodied by individuals like Karl Benz.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Benz
Among Census respondents with the surname Benz, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.1%) and Two or More Races (1.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Benz 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 Benz surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.8%
- Hispanic or Latino3.1%
- Two or more races1.8%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.1%
- Black or African American0.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Benz 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 | #6,038 | #6,038 | 0.0% |
| Count | 5,691 | 5,691 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 1.93 | 1.93 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Benz bearers went from 5,691 to 5,691 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #6,038 to #6,038.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Benz
FAQ
Benz surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Benz?
The surname Benz holds position #6,038 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 6,615 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.93 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Benz surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Benz, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.1%) and Two or More Races (1.8%). 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.