NameCensus.

UK surname

Bennington

A locational surname referring to someone from any of the places called Bennington in England.

In the 1881 census there were 440 people recorded with the Bennington surname, ranking it #7,440 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 640, ranked #8,269, down from #7,440 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sporle with Palgrave, Hull Holy Trinity and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fenland and Mid Suffolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bennington is 675 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 45.5%.

1881 census count

440

Ranked #7,440

Modern count

640

2016, ranked #8,269

Peak year

2011

675 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bennington had 440 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,440 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 640 in 2016, ranked #8,269.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 562 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bennington surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bennington surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Bennington 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 287 #7,909
1861 historical 320 #7,960
1881 historical 440 #7,440
1891 historical 538 #6,998
1901 historical 547 #7,555
1911 historical 562 #7,170
1997 modern 636 #7,798
1998 modern 647 #7,939
1999 modern 640 #8,060
2000 modern 647 #7,961
2001 modern 628 #7,995
2002 modern 656 #7,890
2003 modern 651 #7,825
2004 modern 641 #7,918
2005 modern 636 #7,906
2006 modern 629 #8,005
2007 modern 639 #7,976
2008 modern 634 #8,060
2009 modern 658 #7,997
2010 modern 668 #8,076
2011 modern 675 #7,916
2012 modern 649 #8,084
2013 modern 655 #8,163
2014 modern 653 #8,224
2015 modern 644 #8,260
2016 modern 640 #8,269

Geography

Back to top

Where Benningtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sporle with Palgrave, Hull Holy Trinity, London parishes, Eccles and Middlesborough. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fenland and Mid Suffolk. 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 Sporle with Palgrave Norfolk
2 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
3 London parishes London 3
4 Eccles Lancashire
5 Middlesborough Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fenland 003 Fenland
2 Fenland 001 Fenland
3 Mid Suffolk 006 Mid Suffolk
4 Fenland 002 Fenland
5 Mid Suffolk 004 Mid Suffolk

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Bennington

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Bennington

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bennington, 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 Bennington surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Bennington 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, Bennington 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

Bennington is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bennington falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bennington

The surname Bennington has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is a locational surname, derived from the place name Bennington, which was originally recorded as Beningwrthe in the Domesday Book of 1086. The name is believed to have originated from the Old English words "bening" meaning "bean" and "wurth" meaning "enclosure" or "homestead," suggesting that the name may have referred to a settlement or farm where beans were cultivated.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Bennington is found in the Pipe Rolls of Berkshire in 1176, where a Geoffrey de Bennington is mentioned. During the 13th century, the surname appears in various records, such as the Curia Regis Rolls of Berkshire in 1223, which lists a Robert de Benington.

The Bennington surname has also been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such notable figure was Sir John Bennington (1572-1642), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Berkshire in 1628. Another prominent individual was Robert Bennington (1667-1733), a successful merchant and benefactor who funded the construction of several churches and schools in his hometown of Bennington, Hertfordshire.

In the realm of literature, the name Bennington is linked to the English poet and playwright, William Bennington (1609-1676), who is best known for his satirical work "The Rival Poets." Additionally, the surname is associated with the English historian and antiquarian, Edward Bennington (1720-1789), whose extensive research on local history and antiquities contributed significantly to the understanding of the past.

It is also worth mentioning John Bennington (1785-1858), a prominent figure in the early days of the American West, who served as a guide and interpreter for several expeditions, including those led by Lewis and Clark. His knowledge of Native American languages and cultures proved invaluable in facilitating communication and understanding between the explorers and indigenous peoples.

While the Bennington surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, with notable individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in various fields throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Bennington families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bennington 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. Yorkshire leads with 105 Benningtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.47x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 105 2.47x
Norfolk 83 12.58x
Lincolnshire 38 5.54x
Kent 34 2.32x
Middlesex 34 0.79x
Durham 33 2.58x
Nottinghamshire 20 3.46x
Lancashire 19 0.37x
Surrey 14 0.67x
Northamptonshire 11 2.72x
Suffolk 11 2.10x
Staffordshire 9 0.62x
Sussex 6 0.83x
Caernarfonshire 4 2.30x
Derbyshire 4 0.60x
Berkshire 3 0.93x
Devon 2 0.22x
Leicestershire 2 0.42x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.37x
Cheshire 1 0.11x
Essex 1 0.12x
Glamorgan 1 0.13x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.17x
Shropshire 1 0.27x
Warwickshire 1 0.09x
Worcestershire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Grimsby in Lincolnshire leads with 20 Benningtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 45.91x.

Place Total Index
Great Grimsby 20 45.91x
Sporle With Palgrave 20 1869.16x
Holy Trinity 17 16.62x
Brandon Parva 16 6666.67x
Deptford St Paul 15 13.28x
Edmonton 13 37.59x
Heigham 12 33.88x
Langtoft 10 1162.79x
Redcar 9 267.06x
Stockton On Tees 9 14.62x
Normanby In 8 70.36x
Peakirk 8 2222.22x
Pendleton In Salford 8 13.18x
Sculcoates 8 11.86x
Westoe 8 11.05x
Crook Billy Row 7 42.81x
Drinkstone 7 1029.41x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 7 35.34x
Middlesbrough 7 12.64x
Nottingham St Mary 7 4.68x
Ormesby 7 61.24x
Collierley 6 105.45x
Paddington London 6 3.80x
Plumstead 6 12.29x
Terrington St Clement 6 201.34x
Thornaby 6 37.76x
Wakefield 6 18.38x
Alstonefield 5 714.29x
Battersea 5 3.17x
Castle Rising 5 980.39x
Kensington London 5 2.10x
Sutton On Trent 5 352.11x
Worthing 5 625.00x
Aldbrough In Skirlaugh 4 512.82x
Camberwell 4 1.46x
Erith 4 27.72x
Hucknall Torkard 4 27.27x
Market Deeping 4 224.72x
Norwich St Clement 4 52.29x
Over Darwen 4 9.83x
Penllech 4 1176.47x
Walkeringham 4 384.62x
Whitwood 4 66.23x
Bicker 3 283.02x
Greenwich 3 4.39x
Liverpool 3 0.97x
Newington 3 1.89x
Peterborough 3 10.26x
Runhall 3 1034.48x
Sutton Stoneferry 3 24.65x
White Waltham 3 247.93x
Wiggenhall St Mary Virgin 3 638.30x
Yarm 3 137.61x
Chelsea London 2 1.55x
Cottingham 2 21.81x
Gressenhall 2 163.93x
Hackney London 2 0.83x
Holy Trinity St Mary 2 30.91x
Ipswich St Margaret 2 11.27x
Kirkleatham 2 34.84x
Lambeth 2 0.53x
Leicester St Margaret 2 1.72x
Melton 2 97.09x
Minster In Sheppey 2 8.24x
Norton 2 42.64x
Patrington 2 99.50x
St George Hanover Square 2 2.64x
St Mary 2 70.42x
St Marylebone London 2 0.87x
West Derby 2 1.34x
Whittington 2 67.57x
Woolwich 2 3.70x
Darlington 1 2.03x
Fring 1 384.62x
Halsham 1 294.12x
Healaugh 1 285.71x
Ryhill Camerton 1 250.00x
Staveley 1 8.38x
Upper Hallam 1 27.03x
York St Cuthbert 1 25.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 27
William 21
Robert 14
James 13
Charles 11
George 11
Edward 8
Henry 8
Thomas 8
Alfred 5
Albert 4
Arthur 4
Benjamin 4
Samuel 4
Walter 4
Herbert 3
Horace 3
Joseph 3
Abel 2
Frederick 2
Phillip 2
Christr.H. 1
Clement 1
Cornelius 1
Cyril 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Jeremiah 1
Jesse 1
Jessee 1
Jessie 1
Jonathan 1
Lorengo 1
Mark 1
Martin 1
Matthew 1
Michael 1
Nathaniel 1
Noah 1
Wm.B. 1

FAQ

Bennington surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bennington surname in 1881?

In 1881, 440 people were recorded with the Bennington surname. That placed it at #7,440 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bennington surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 640 in 2016. That gives Bennington a modern rank of #8,269.

What does the Bennington surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from any of the places called Bennington in England.

What does the Bennington map show?

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