NameCensus.

UK surname

Benney

A locational surname derived from places in England named Benney.

In the 1881 census there were 344 people recorded with the Benney surname, ranking it #8,864 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 571, ranked #9,030, down from #8,864 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St Columb Major and Illogan. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall and Plymouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Benney is 602 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 66.0%.

1881 census count

344

Ranked #8,864

Modern count

571

2016, ranked #9,030

Peak year

2000

602 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Benney had 344 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,864 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 571 in 2016, ranked #9,030.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 511 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Benney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Benney surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Benney 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 361 #6,554
1861 historical 337 #7,564
1881 historical 344 #8,864
1891 historical 394 #8,982
1901 historical 465 #8,499
1911 historical 511 #7,706
1997 modern 534 #8,864
1998 modern 552 #8,909
1999 modern 575 #8,686
2000 modern 602 #8,402
2001 modern 574 #8,539
2002 modern 601 #8,453
2003 modern 574 #8,581
2004 modern 567 #8,672
2005 modern 563 #8,650
2006 modern 557 #8,729
2007 modern 558 #8,802
2008 modern 556 #8,892
2009 modern 569 #8,929
2010 modern 584 #8,962
2011 modern 566 #9,070
2012 modern 559 #9,063
2013 modern 579 #8,965
2014 modern 573 #9,089
2015 modern 575 #9,009
2016 modern 571 #9,030

Geography

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Where Benneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St Columb Major, Illogan, London parishes and Truro St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall and Plymouth. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 St Columb Major Cornwall
3 Illogan Cornwall
4 London parishes London 3
5 Truro St Mary Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 066 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 073 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 059 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 071 Cornwall
5 Plymouth 009 Plymouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Benney

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Benney

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Benney, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Benney surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Benney household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Benney is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Benney 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

Benney falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Benney 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 Benney, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Benney

The surname BENNEY is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "bene" meaning "bean" and "ey" meaning "island" or "piece of dry ground." It is believed to have originated in the county of Suffolk, specifically in the area around the village of Benhall.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Beneye." This entry refers to a landholder in the village of Benhall, suggesting that the name was already in use by the 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the name was often spelled in various ways, such as "Beneye," "Benny," and "Benye." These variations were likely due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in spelling that were common at the time.

In the 14th century, a notable figure with the surname BENNEY was John Benney (c. 1330-1390), a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Norwich. He was involved in the wool trade and played an active role in local governance.

Another historical figure of note was Sir Ralph Benney (c. 1480-1544), a Member of Parliament for the borough of Grantham during the reign of King Henry VIII. He was knighted for his service to the Crown and is mentioned in several contemporary records.

During the 16th century, the surname BENNEY can be found in records from the village of Benhall, suggesting a strong connection between the name and this particular location. One such record is the parish register, which includes entries for the Benney family from the late 1500s.

In the 17th century, a notable bearer of the name was Thomas Benney (1620-1688), a clergyman and author who served as the rector of Cheshunt in Hertfordshire. He published several works on religious topics and was known for his scholarly pursuits.

Another individual of note was John Benney (1663-1726), a renowned architect who designed several churches and country houses in the East Anglia region. His most famous work is the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul in Salle, Norfolk, which is considered a fine example of Georgian architecture.

The surname BENNEY has continued to be associated with the county of Suffolk and the surrounding areas, with many families bearing this name tracing their roots back to this region. While the name may have spread to other parts of England and beyond, its origins remain firmly rooted in the historic county of Suffolk.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Benney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Benney 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. Cornwall leads with 205 Benneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 54.28x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 205 54.28x
Middlesex 53 1.59x
Devon 17 2.45x
Yorkshire 11 0.33x
Gloucestershire 8 1.22x
Suffolk 7 1.72x
Durham 5 0.50x
Caernarfonshire 4 2.97x
Cheshire 4 0.54x
Hampshire 4 0.59x
Leicestershire 4 1.08x
Surrey 3 0.18x
Derbyshire 2 0.38x
Dorset 2 0.91x
Glamorgan 2 0.34x
Kent 2 0.18x
Sussex 2 0.36x
Essex 1 0.15x
Herefordshire 1 0.73x
Lanarkshire 1 0.09x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.22x
Royal Navy 1 2.52x
Somerset 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Menheniot in Cornwall leads with 21 Benneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1337.58x.

Place Total Index
Menheniot 21 1337.58x
St Clement 19 482.23x
St Columb Major 13 415.34x
Constantine 12 545.45x
St Pancras London 12 4.47x
Bodmin 11 176.00x
Truro St Mary 11 347.00x
St Allen 10 1492.54x
Falmouth 9 67.31x
Perranzabuloe 9 276.07x
Sithney 9 235.60x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 8 12.99x
Plymouth Charles The 8 26.15x
St Agnes 8 151.23x
Stoke Damerel 8 16.46x
Whitechapel London 8 24.33x
Illogan 7 70.00x
Ipswich St Mathew 7 61.46x
Gerrans 6 588.24x
Hackney London 6 3.21x
Lanlivery 6 377.36x
Tywardreath 6 246.91x
Breage 5 144.93x
Rotherham 5 26.82x
St Anne Soho London 5 26.25x
Camborne 4 25.71x
Cubert 4 930.23x
Helston 4 101.78x
Hemington 4 930.23x
Llangian 4 320.00x
Over 4 53.48x
Portsea 4 2.98x
Redruth 4 37.45x
Ryhope 4 58.06x
St Columb Minor 4 126.18x
St Kew 4 317.46x
Manningham 3 7.37x
Mile End Old Town London 3 4.23x
Newington 3 2.43x
Paddington London 3 2.45x
St Germans 3 114.07x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.38x
Ealing 2 6.71x
Ecclesall Bierlow 2 2.97x
Egloshayle 2 112.99x
Hampton London 2 36.50x
Ifield 2 85.11x
Liskeard 2 31.65x
Poole St James 2 24.30x
Poplar London 2 3.18x
Ripley 2 30.96x
St Blazey 2 60.24x
St Ervan 2 444.44x
St John Near Swansea 2 27.86x
St Marylebone London 2 1.12x
St Wenn 2 322.58x
Barony 1 0.37x
Bridlington 1 13.21x
Bromley London 1 1.36x
Chiswick 1 5.49x
East Stonehouse 1 7.31x
Greenwich 1 1.88x
Gwinear 1 55.87x
Hammersmith London 1 1.22x
Kensington London 1 0.54x
Leominster 1 17.67x
Lyncombe Widcombe 1 7.11x
Madron Penzance 1 7.28x
Morval 1 129.87x
Nottingham St Mary 1 0.86x
Royal Navy 1 2.94x
St Austell 1 7.75x
St Breock 1 49.02x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.70x
St Luke London 1 1.87x
St Merryn 1 161.29x
West Ham 1 0.69x
Westoe 1 1.78x
Woolwich 1 2.38x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 38
Elizabeth 12
Sarah 11
Ann 7
Ellen 7
Hannah 6
Eliza 5
Alice 4
Edith 4
Emily 4
Bessy 3
Catherine 3
Elizth. 3
Emma 3
Minnie 3
Susan 3
Beatrice 2
Charlotte 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Georgina 2
Harriet 2
Kate 2
Mabel 2
Maria 2
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Annie 1
Anny 1
Bessie 1
Caroline 1
Cuish'a 1
E. 1
Elizth.J. 1
Enda 1
Henrietta 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Lavinia 1
Leonora 1
Lillian 1
Lilly 1
Lottie 1
Louisa 1
Lucinda 1
Lydia 1
Unetta 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 26
William 25
Richard 16
James 15
Thomas 8
Henry 7
Joseph 7
Albert 5
Edward 5
Arthur 3
Charles 3
George 3
Harry 3
Walter 3
Alfred 2
Samuel 2
Abal 1
Adolphus 1
Agnes 1
Daniel 1
Earnest 1
Edmund 1
Edwd.J. 1
Edwin 1
Egbert 1
Ernest 1
Fredrick 1
Gerrold 1
Henwood 1
Herbet 1
J.J. 1
Jas. 1
Micheal 1
Mitchel 1
Nicholas 1
Ricd. 1
Richd. 1
Robert 1
Samson 1
Tom 1
Urban 1
Wm. 1
Wm.H. 1
Wm.Jas. 1

FAQ

Benney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Benney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 344 people were recorded with the Benney surname. That placed it at #8,864 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Benney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 571 in 2016. That gives Benney a modern rank of #9,030.

What does the Benney surname mean?

A locational surname derived from places in England named Benney.

What does the Benney map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Benney 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.