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

Benzaken, 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 Benzaken surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Benzaken in America

Benzaken is the 136449th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Benzaken surname appeared 123 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 Benzaken.

We can also compare 2010 data for Benzaken 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 Benzaken

The surname BENZAKEN is of Moroccan origin, believed to have emerged during the 15th century in the region of Fez. It is derived from the Arabic phrase "Banu Zaken," which translates to "children of Zaken," likely referring to an ancestral figure or patriarch.

BENZAKEN is a variation of the more common spelling "Ben Zaken," reflecting the linguistic influence of the Moroccan Arabic dialect. The name's roots can be traced back to the Jewish communities of North Africa, particularly those of Fez and neighboring areas.

Historical records from the 16th century, such as the Megillat Yuhasin (Chronicles of the Jewish People), mention individuals bearing the surname BENZAKEN residing in Fez and other Moroccan cities. These early references suggest that the name had already established itself within the Jewish community by that time.

One of the earliest known individuals with the BENZAKEN surname was Rabbi Isaac Ben Zaken, a renowned scholar and philosopher who lived in Fez during the late 15th century. His works and teachings had a profound impact on the intellectual and religious discourse of the era.

Another notable figure was Raphael BENZAKEN, a prominent merchant and philanthropist who lived in the city of Meknes in the 17th century. His wealth and influence allowed him to support various charitable initiatives within the Jewish community.

In the 18th century, the name BENZAKEN appeared in records from the city of Marrakesh, where a family of that name occupied a respected position among the local Jewish population.

As the BENZAKEN family spread across Morocco and beyond, variations in spelling and pronunciation emerged. For instance, the name was sometimes written as "Ben Zaquen" or "Ben Zakin," reflecting regional linguistic differences.

Throughout the centuries, the BENZAKEN surname has been associated with notable individuals in various fields, such as Rabbi David BENZAKEN, a prominent scholar and writer who lived in Fez during the 19th century, and Joseph BENZAKEN, a successful businessman and community leader who resided in Tangier in the early 20th century.

While the surname BENZAKEN originated within the Jewish communities of Morocco, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora, carrying with it a rich cultural and historical legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Benzaken

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

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

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

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