UK surname
From an English place name meaning "by the bends" or "dweller by the bend of a river".
In the 1881 census there were 178 people recorded with the Bennitt surname, ranking it #13,840 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 41, ranked #35,388, down from #13,840 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Harborne, Sedgley and Tipton otherwise Tibington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bennitt is 390 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 77.0%.
1881 census count
178
Ranked #13,840
Modern count
41
2016, ranked #35,388
Peak year
1851
390 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bennitt surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bennitt surname density by area, 1881 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 | 390 | #6,155 |
| 1861 | historical | 354 | #7,224 |
| 1881 | historical | 178 | #13,840 |
| 1891 | historical | 299 | #11,140 |
| 1901 | historical | 119 | #20,624 |
| 1911 | historical | 129 | #19,577 |
| 1997 | modern | 43 | #33,361 |
| 1998 | modern | 47 | #33,197 |
| 1999 | modern | 50 | #33,041 |
| 2000 | modern | 51 | #32,999 |
| 2001 | modern | 45 | #33,401 |
| 2002 | modern | 46 | #33,631 |
| 2003 | modern | 44 | #33,875 |
| 2004 | modern | 49 | #33,647 |
| 2005 | modern | 38 | #34,741 |
| 2006 | modern | 36 | #35,131 |
| 2007 | modern | 37 | #35,215 |
| 2008 | modern | 38 | #35,262 |
| 2009 | modern | 41 | #35,221 |
| 2010 | modern | 44 | #35,183 |
| 2011 | modern | 41 | #35,340 |
| 2012 | modern | 37 | #35,531 |
| 2013 | modern | 40 | #35,439 |
| 2014 | modern | 38 | #35,547 |
| 2015 | modern | 40 | #35,422 |
| 2016 | modern | 41 | #35,388 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Harborne, Sedgley, Tipton otherwise Tibington, Kinver and Dudley. 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 | Harborne | Worcestershire |
| 2 | Sedgley | Staffordshire |
| 3 | Tipton otherwise Tibington | Staffordshire |
| 4 | Kinver | Staffordshire |
| 5 | Dudley | Staffordshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bennitt 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 Bennitt, 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 Bennitt surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bennitt 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, Bennitt 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 Bennitt is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bennitt, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "BENNITT" is of English origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the county of Buckinghamshire, England, during the 12th or 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "ben," which means "bean," and the suffix "-ett," indicating a diminutive form. This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who cultivated or traded in beans.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a certain "Willelmus Benet" is mentioned. This document was a survey of landholders in England commissioned by King Edward I. The name also appears in other early records, such as the Placita de Quo Warranto of 1292, which lists a "Roger Benet."
During the 14th century, the name underwent various spelling variations, including "Benett," "Benet," and "Bennet." These variations were likely due to regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling conventions of the time. The name was also associated with certain place names, such as Bennet's End in Buckinghamshire and Bennet's Street in London.
One notable historical figure with the surname "BENNITT" was John Bennet (c. 1575-1614), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of St. Giles Cripplegate in London. Another was Sir John Bennet (1598-1682), an English judge and Member of Parliament during the reign of Charles II.
In the 17th century, the name gained prominence with the birth of Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington (1618-1685), an English statesman and one of the members of the famous Cabal ministry under King Charles II. His son, Henry Bennet, 2nd Earl of Arlington (1663-1701), also held political offices during the reign of William III.
Another significant figure was Christopher Bennet (1617-1655), an English clergyman and one of the founders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in North America. He served as the minister of the First Church in Boston and played a crucial role in the early development of the colony.
As the centuries passed, the surname "BENNITT" continued to appear in various records and historical accounts, with individuals bearing the name making contributions in various fields, including politics, religion, law, and literature.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bennitt 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. Yorkshire leads with 51 Bennitts recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.00x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 51 | 3.00x |
| Staffordshire | 25 | 4.31x |
| Shropshire | 13 | 8.77x |
| Warwickshire | 11 | 2.54x |
| Nottinghamshire | 10 | 4.32x |
| Oxfordshire | 10 | 9.43x |
| Lancashire | 8 | 0.39x |
| Worcestershire | 7 | 3.12x |
| Lincolnshire | 6 | 2.19x |
| Cumberland | 4 | 2.71x |
| Devon | 4 | 1.12x |
| Gloucestershire | 4 | 1.19x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 0.23x |
| Northamptonshire | 4 | 2.48x |
| Sussex | 4 | 1.38x |
| Somerset | 3 | 1.09x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.34x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 0.51x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.37x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.28x |
| Huntingdonshire | 1 | 2.93x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 0.39x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.12x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Greasbrough in Yorkshire leads with 9 Bennitts recorded in 1881 and an index of 400.00x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bennitt surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 14 |
| Sarah | 6 |
| Elizabeth | 4 |
| Emily | 4 |
| Emma | 4 |
| Jane | 4 |
| Margaret | 4 |
| Ann | 3 |
| Catharine | 3 |
| Hannah | 3 |
| Lucy | 3 |
| Alice | 2 |
| Catherine | 2 |
| Maude | 2 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Annie | 1 |
| Bessie | 1 |
| Blanche | 1 |
| Bosella | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Charlote | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Clarence | 1 |
| Cresha | 1 |
| Duchevy | 1 |
| Ellen | 1 |
| Ellin | 1 |
| Elliza | 1 |
| Evelyn | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Helen | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Letthia | 1 |
| Margurite | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Priscilla | 1 |
| Rachel | 1 |
| Rose | 1 |
| Ruth | 1 |
| Selena | 1 |
| Tabitha | 1 |
| Victoria | 1 |
| Ward | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bennitt surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| William | 16 |
| John | 10 |
| Charles | 6 |
| George | 5 |
| Henry | 5 |
| James | 5 |
| Samuel | 5 |
| Thomas | 4 |
| Edwin | 3 |
| Joseph | 3 |
| Robert | 3 |
| Edward | 2 |
| Frederick | 2 |
| Abraham | 1 |
| Agustus | 1 |
| Arthur | 1 |
| David | 1 |
| Emery | 1 |
| Enoch | 1 |
| Ernest | 1 |
| Francis | 1 |
| Fred | 1 |
| Granitte | 1 |
| Harrold | 1 |
| Herbert | 1 |
| Joshua | 1 |
| Michael | 1 |
| Richard | 1 |
| Sterndale | 1 |
| Thos. | 1 |
| Victor | 1 |
| Walter | 1 |
| Wm | 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 Bennitt households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 38 |
| Labourer | 5 |
| Scholer | 4 |
| Shares | 4 |
| Ag Lab | 3 |
| Carpenter | 3 |
| General Servant Domestic | 3 |
| Agl Lab | 2 |
| Drapers Assistant | 2 |
| Laborer | 2 |
| Seamstress | 2 |
| Assistant Schoolmistress | 1 |
| Baker | 1 |
| Blacksmiths Striker | 1 |
| Brick Yard Boy | 1 |
| Cabinet Maker | 1 |
| Carpenter Employing 3 Hands | 1 |
| Carrier | 1 |
| Carrier Wife | 1 |
| Charrwomen | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Coach Man | 1 |
| Coachman (Unemployed) | 1 |
| Coal Dealer | 1 |
| Coal Miner Labourer | 1 |
| Coal Trade (Dlr) | 1 |
| Cook Dom | 1 |
| Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Earth Stopper (Ag Lab) | 1 |
| Engine Tenter | 1 |
| Farm Labour | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Farmer Of 29 Acres | 1 |
| Farmers Wife | 1 |
| Filecutter | 1 |
| General Dealer | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| House Keeper | 1 |
| Joiner | 1 |
| Kitchenmaid | 1 |
| Licensed Victualler | 1 |
| Lime Burner | 1 |
| National School Mistress | 1 |
| No Occupation At Present | 1 |
| Officers Wife | 1 |
| Worsted Weaver | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 178 people were recorded with the Bennitt surname. That placed it at #13,840 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 41 in 2016. That gives Bennitt a modern rank of #35,388.
From an English place name meaning "by the bends" or "dweller by the bend of a river".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bennitt 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.