UK surname
A locational surname of English origin, likely referring to someone from a place called Benskin.
In the 1881 census there were 146 people recorded with the Benskin surname, ranking it #15,752 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 87, ranked #32,476, down from #15,752 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rearsby, London parishes and Loughborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Benskin is 173 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 40.4%.
1881 census count
146
Ranked #15,752
Modern count
87
2016, ranked #32,476
Peak year
1891
173 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Benskin surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Benskin 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 | 110 | #16,093 |
| 1861 | historical | 100 | #21,103 |
| 1881 | historical | 146 | #15,752 |
| 1891 | historical | 173 | #16,600 |
| 1901 | historical | 168 | #16,886 |
| 1911 | historical | 147 | #18,104 |
| 1997 | modern | 81 | #29,436 |
| 1998 | modern | 86 | #29,343 |
| 1999 | modern | 89 | #29,168 |
| 2000 | modern | 95 | #28,441 |
| 2001 | modern | 90 | #28,793 |
| 2002 | modern | 99 | #28,082 |
| 2003 | modern | 93 | #28,829 |
| 2004 | modern | 92 | #29,197 |
| 2005 | modern | 82 | #30,617 |
| 2006 | modern | 79 | #31,263 |
| 2007 | modern | 79 | #31,628 |
| 2008 | modern | 81 | #31,713 |
| 2009 | modern | 83 | #31,950 |
| 2010 | modern | 84 | #32,289 |
| 2011 | modern | 78 | #32,819 |
| 2012 | modern | 83 | #32,611 |
| 2013 | modern | 91 | #32,020 |
| 2014 | modern | 90 | #32,309 |
| 2015 | modern | 88 | #32,421 |
| 2016 | modern | 87 | #32,476 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rearsby, London parishes, Loughborough, Prestwold and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. 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 | Rearsby | Leicestershire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Loughborough | Leicestershire |
| 4 | Prestwold | Leicestershire |
| 5 | Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars | Leicestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Benskin 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 Benskin, 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 Benskin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Benskin 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, Benskin 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 Benskin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Benskin, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Benskin is of English origin, deriving from a medieval nickname for someone with a slender, delicate appearance. It is believed to have emerged during the late 12th or early 13th century, with early spellings including Beneskyn, Beneskyne, and Benskyn.
The name is thought to have originated in the East Midlands region of England, particularly in the counties of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. It may have derived from the Old English words "bæne" (bone) and "scin" (shin), suggesting a person with thin or bony shins.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, which mention a "William Benskyn." The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also reference a "Robert Beneskyn" in Nottinghamshire.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Benskin" and "Benskyn," in records from Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. During this period, the surname was primarily concentrated in these northern counties of England.
Notable individuals with the surname Benskin throughout history include:
1. Robert Benskin (c. 1300 - c. 1370), a landowner and freeman in the village of Epworth, Lincolnshire. 2. John Benskin (c. 1450 - c. 1520), a merchant and alderman in the city of York, known for his involvement in the wool trade. 3. William Benskin (c. 1580 - c. 1640), a yeoman farmer from Nottinghamshire, who owned land in the village of Blyth. 4. Elizabeth Benskin (1625 - 1698), a Quaker preacher and writer from Yorkshire, known for her religious works and travels. 5. Thomas Benskin (1760 - 1832), a successful businessman and landowner in Lincolnshire, who established a notable estate in the village of Bardney.
The Benskin surname has maintained a presence throughout England, particularly in the northern counties where it originated. While not among the most common surnames, it has persisted as a distinct family name with a rich historical lineage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Benskin 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. Leicestershire leads with 69 Benskins recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.70x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Leicestershire | 69 | 43.70x |
| Surrey | 31 | 4.47x |
| Kent | 17 | 3.50x |
| Dorset | 7 | 7.49x |
| Bedfordshire | 4 | 5.42x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 0.28x |
| Yorkshire | 4 | 0.28x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 0.69x |
| Herefordshire | 2 | 3.42x |
| Wiltshire | 2 | 1.59x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 1.16x |
| Caernarfonshire | 1 | 1.74x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.40x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 1.02x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Loughborough in Leicestershire leads with 18 Benskins recorded in 1881 and an index of 251.05x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Loughborough | 18 | 251.05x |
| Rotherhithe | 13 | 73.86x |
| Rearsby | 11 | 4782.61x |
| Aylesford | 9 | 666.67x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 8 | 20.77x |
| Seagrave | 7 | 3888.89x |
| Tarrant Hinton | 7 | 7000.00x |
| Thrussington | 7 | 2333.33x |
| Bermondsey | 6 | 14.15x |
| Camberwell | 6 | 6.60x |
| Bedford St Paul | 4 | 79.05x |
| Burton Lazars | 4 | 3333.33x |
| Burton On The Wolds | 4 | 2222.22x |
| Chatham | 4 | 29.92x |
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 4 | 13.93x |
| Leicester All Sts | 4 | 129.03x |
| Croydon | 3 | 7.79x |
| Deptford St Paul | 3 | 8.00x |
| Sileby | 3 | 300.00x |
| Calne | 2 | 77.22x |
| Fulham London | 2 | 9.69x |
| Portsea | 2 | 3.50x |
| Yatton | 2 | 2222.22x |
| Cardiff St Mary | 1 | 7.32x |
| Castle Donnington | 1 | 76.34x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 2.33x |
| Datchet | 1 | 169.49x |
| Denio | 1 | 74.07x |
| Frindsbury | 1 | 54.64x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 0.81x |
| Sheepshed | 1 | 46.30x |
| Southwark Christchurch | 1 | 14.99x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 1 | 3.49x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 0.87x |
| Syston | 1 | 67.57x |
| Watford | 1 | 13.14x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Benskin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Sarah | 8 |
| Mary | 7 |
| Alice | 4 |
| Ann | 3 |
| Elizabeth | 3 |
| Emma | 3 |
| Harriett | 3 |
| Ada | 2 |
| Adelaide | 2 |
| Anne | 2 |
| Annie | 2 |
| Eliza | 2 |
| Ellen | 2 |
| Jane | 2 |
| Laura | 2 |
| Martha | 2 |
| Matilda | 2 |
| Adeliza | 1 |
| Alma | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Doris | 1 |
| E.R.S. | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Hether | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Julia | 1 |
| Lois | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Lousia | 1 |
| Maggie | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Miriam | 1 |
| Phebe | 1 |
| Polley | 1 |
| Rhoda | 1 |
| Rosa | 1 |
| Violetta | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Benskin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Benskin households.
FAQ
In 1881, 146 people were recorded with the Benskin surname. That placed it at #15,752 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 87 in 2016. That gives Benskin a modern rank of #32,476.
A locational surname of English origin, likely referring to someone from a place called Benskin.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Benskin 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.