UK surname
A French surname derived from the diminutive of Benedict meaning "blessed."
In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Bennette surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 61, ranked #34,287, down from #33,721 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Mackworth, Lambeth and Ipswich St Clement and Warren House. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bennette is 133 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2950.0%.
1881 census count
2
Ranked #33,721
Modern count
61
2016, ranked #34,287
Peak year
1861
133 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bennette surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bennette surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 24 | #29,038 |
| 1861 | historical | 133 | #16,835 |
| 1881 | historical | 2 | #33,721 |
| 1891 | historical | 61 | #29,103 |
| 1901 | historical | 25 | #31,259 |
| 1911 | historical | 29 | #30,190 |
| 1997 | modern | 55 | #32,114 |
| 1998 | modern | 55 | #32,399 |
| 1999 | modern | 52 | #32,848 |
| 2000 | modern | 50 | #33,087 |
| 2001 | modern | 54 | #32,583 |
| 2002 | modern | 52 | #33,110 |
| 2003 | modern | 54 | #32,990 |
| 2004 | modern | 57 | #32,968 |
| 2005 | modern | 59 | #33,008 |
| 2006 | modern | 61 | #33,142 |
| 2007 | modern | 65 | #33,045 |
| 2008 | modern | 57 | #34,015 |
| 2009 | modern | 62 | #33,832 |
| 2010 | modern | 62 | #34,069 |
| 2011 | modern | 60 | #34,202 |
| 2012 | modern | 64 | #34,028 |
| 2013 | modern | 68 | #33,877 |
| 2014 | modern | 67 | #33,959 |
| 2015 | modern | 65 | #34,036 |
| 2016 | modern | 61 | #34,287 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Mackworth, Lambeth, Ipswich St Clement and Warren House, Risca and Camborne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mackworth | Derbyshire |
| 2 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 3 | Ipswich St Clement and Warren House | Suffolk |
| 4 | Risca | Monmouthshire |
| 5 | Camborne | Cornwall |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bennette surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bennette, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Bennette surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bennette household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Bennette is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bennette is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bennette, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Bennette originated in England and can be traced back to the late 11th century. It is a locational name derived from the Old French word "benet," which means "blessed." This word ultimately stems from the Latin "benedictus," meaning the same thing.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Bennette was Gilbert Benet, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1195. The name was also found in early records from counties like Suffolk, where a John Benet was documented in 1273.
The surname Bennette is thought to have been initially given to someone who lived near a monastery or church dedicated to St. Benedict, the founder of the Benedictine order of monks. Over time, the name evolved into various spellings, including Bennet, Bennett, and Bennette, among others.
In the 13th century, a person named Richard Benet was recorded in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire. Additionally, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 mentioned a William Benet from Oxfordshire.
One notable figure with the surname Bennette was Sir John Bennette, who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1603-1604. He was a successful merchant and a member of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers.
Another significant individual was Henry Bennette, a Puritan divine born in 1569 in Suffolk. He was a prominent preacher and author of several religious works.
In the 17th century, Edward Bennette, born in 1620, was a British navigator and explorer who is credited with exploring the coast of Western Australia.
Edward Bennette's contemporary, Sir Henry Bennette, born in 1618, was an English soldier and politician who served as a Member of Parliament and was involved in the English Civil War.
The surname Bennette also has a notable connection to the arts. William Sterndale Bennette, born in 1816, was an English composer, pianist, and conductor who is considered one of the most influential figures in Victorian classical music.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bennette surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 1 Bennettes recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.19x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishops Lydeard in Somerset leads with 1 Bennettes recorded in 1881 and an index of 10000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bishops Lydeard | 1 | 10000.00x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 97.09x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bennette surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Charolette | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Bennette households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Draper Unemployed | 1 |
| Kitchen Maid | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Bennette surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 61 in 2016. That gives Bennette a modern rank of #34,287.
A French surname derived from the diminutive of Benedict meaning "blessed."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bennette bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.