NameCensus.

UK surname

Benison

A surname derived from the Latin word "benedictio" meaning blessing or benediction.

In the 1881 census there were 151 people recorded with the Benison surname, ranking it #15,419 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 141, ranked #24,753, down from #15,419 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Winwick, Whittington and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newark and Sherwood, Sunderland and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Benison is 193 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 6.6%.

1881 census count

151

Ranked #15,419

Modern count

141

2016, ranked #24,753

Peak year

1901

193 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Benison had 151 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,419 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 141 in 2016, ranked #24,753.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 193 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Benison surname distribution map

The map shows where the Benison surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Benison surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Benison over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 136 #13,892
1861 historical 139 #16,263
1881 historical 151 #15,419
1891 historical 187 #15,679
1901 historical 193 #15,469
1911 historical 167 #16,692
1997 modern 137 #22,301
1998 modern 143 #22,317
1999 modern 144 #22,405
2000 modern 146 #22,170
2001 modern 143 #22,133
2002 modern 139 #22,991
2003 modern 140 #22,634
2004 modern 135 #23,326
2005 modern 142 #22,577
2006 modern 142 #22,724
2007 modern 146 #22,596
2008 modern 144 #23,037
2009 modern 148 #23,141
2010 modern 148 #23,697
2011 modern 141 #24,294
2012 modern 141 #24,258
2013 modern 142 #24,547
2014 modern 141 #24,855
2015 modern 138 #25,103
2016 modern 141 #24,753

Geography

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Where Benisons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Winwick, Whittington, London parishes, Battersea and Leamington Priors. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newark and Sherwood, Sunderland, Wiltshire and Hambleton. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Winwick Lancashire
2 Whittington Derbyshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Battersea London (South Districts)
5 Leamington Priors Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newark and Sherwood 003 Newark and Sherwood
2 Sunderland 008 Sunderland
3 Wiltshire 020 Wiltshire
4 Newark and Sherwood 002 Newark and Sherwood
5 Hambleton 002 Hambleton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Benison

These lists show first names that appear often with the Benison surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Benison

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Benison, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Benison surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Benison household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Benison is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Benison is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Benison falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Benison is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Benison, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Benison

The surname Benison has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "benison," which translates to "blessing" or "benediction." This suggests that the name may have originally been bestowed upon someone who was considered a blessing or had received a blessing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1166, where a person named William Benison is mentioned. This historical document provides evidence of the name's existence in northern England during the 12th century.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various records across different counties in England, including the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire (1273) and the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire (1275). These records indicate the gradual spread and establishment of the Benison name throughout the country.

During the 14th century, the surname underwent several spelling variations, such as Benisone, Benyson, and Benysoun. These variations can be found in documents like the Feet of Fines for Essex (1318) and the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield (1379).

One notable individual with the Benison surname was John Benison, a prominent merchant from London who lived during the late 15th and early 16th centuries (c. 1470-1538). He was involved in trade with the Netherlands and served as a alderman of the City of London.

In the 17th century, the surname gained further recognition with the birth of George Benison (1619-1708), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge from 1670 until his death.

Another individual of note was Thomas Benison (1665-1726), an English playwright and poet who authored several works, including the tragedy "Philander" (1694) and the comedy "The Reformation" (1718).

The 18th century saw the birth of William Benison (1736-1809), a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. Paul's in Covent Garden and the Piccadilly Mansion House.

In the 19th century, the name Benison continued to be associated with various professions and fields. One example is Emily Benison (1828-1911), a British author and educator who wrote several books on education and child development.

While the surname Benison may not be among the most common in modern times, its historical roots and journey through various regions of England over several centuries have contributed to its rich heritage and significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Benison families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Benison surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 39 Benisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.23x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 39 2.23x
Middlesex 18 1.22x
Cheshire 17 5.23x
Yorkshire 13 0.89x
Cambridgeshire 11 11.79x
Warwickshire 10 2.69x
Durham 8 1.83x
Surrey 7 0.98x
Monmouthshire 6 5.63x
Derbyshire 4 1.73x
Staffordshire 4 0.80x
Hertfordshire 3 2.95x
Worcestershire 3 1.56x
Nottinghamshire 2 1.01x
Berkshire 1 0.90x
Hampshire 1 0.33x
Lanarkshire 1 0.21x
Lincolnshire 1 0.42x
Midlothian 1 0.51x
Northumberland 1 0.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cottenham in Cambridgeshire leads with 11 Benisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 887.10x.

Place Total Index
Cottenham 11 887.10x
Halliwell 9 141.51x
Coppull 8 860.22x
Preston 8 17.11x
Hackney London 7 8.48x
Monks Coppenhall 7 57.05x
Newton In Makerfield 7 130.84x
Battersea 6 11.07x
Chepstow 6 331.49x
Islington London 6 4.20x
Wharton 6 338.98x
Leamington Priors 5 54.70x
Milverton 5 458.72x
Bolton On Swale 4 10000.00x
Shoreditch London 4 6.26x
West Bromwich 4 14.05x
Bolsover 3 258.62x
Bowling 3 20.75x
Hartlepool 3 48.15x
Kings Norton 3 17.39x
Runcorn 3 40.00x
Stevenage 3 191.08x
Walton Le Dale 3 63.83x
Kimberworth 2 24.69x
Wigan 2 8.19x
Barnsley 1 6.64x
Berwick Upon Tweed 1 21.55x
Bestwood Park 1 285.71x
Blackrod 1 46.08x
Bulwell 1 23.15x
Burdon 1 2000.00x
Farnborough 1 31.55x
Flamborough 1 140.85x
Govan 1 0.85x
Great Grimsby 1 6.69x
Hart Thorpe Bulmer 1 625.00x
Lanchester 1 125.00x
Lythe 1 172.41x
Matlock 1 32.26x
Mottram 1 68.03x
New Windsor 1 26.88x
North Leith 1 10.95x
South Dalton 1 769.23x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 3.37x
Stoke Newington London 1 8.72x
Stranton 1 6.78x
Sunderland 1 12.92x
Toxteth Park 1 1.69x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Benison surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Benison surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 12
James 7
Henry 6
Frederick 5
Thomas 5
George 4
Joseph 4
Charles 3
William 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Frank 2
Lawrence 2
Bertram 1
David 1
Eric 1
Ernest 1
Fredk.G. 1
G.T. 1
Jno. 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
T.G. 1
Ths. 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Benison surname: questions and answers

How common was the Benison surname in 1881?

In 1881, 151 people were recorded with the Benison surname. That placed it at #15,419 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Benison surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 141 in 2016. That gives Benison a modern rank of #24,753.

What does the Benison surname mean?

A surname derived from the Latin word "benedictio" meaning blessing or benediction.

What does the Benison map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Benison bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.