NameCensus.

UK surname

Bento

Portuguese and Galician surname derived from the Latin word "benedictus," meaning "blessed" or "well-spoken."

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Bento surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 140, ranked #24,865, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kensington and Chelsea, Surrey Heath and Great Yarmouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bento is 140 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6900.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

140

2016, ranked #24,865

Peak year

2016

140 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bento had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 140 in 2016, ranked #24,865.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Bento surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bento surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bento 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
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 20 #35,809
1998 modern 20 #35,885
1999 modern 25 #35,413
2000 modern 39 #34,066
2001 modern 28 #34,936
2002 modern 34 #34,634
2003 modern 48 #33,533
2004 modern 48 #33,742
2005 modern 49 #33,859
2006 modern 63 #32,943
2007 modern 77 #31,856
2008 modern 87 #30,999
2009 modern 104 #28,982
2010 modern 110 #28,666
2011 modern 108 #28,811
2012 modern 129 #25,705
2013 modern 130 #26,074
2014 modern 134 #25,711
2015 modern 132 #25,859
2016 modern 140 #24,865

Geography

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Where Bentos are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kensington and Chelsea, Surrey Heath, Great Yarmouth, Oxford and Hounslow. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kensington and Chelsea 012 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Surrey Heath 001 Surrey Heath
3 Great Yarmouth 006 Great Yarmouth
4 Oxford 010 Oxford
5 Hounslow 021 Hounslow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bento

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bento

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Bento surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Bento 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Bento is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bento is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bento falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bento 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 - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Bento, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bento

The surname Bento has its origins in Portugal, where it emerged during the Middle Ages. It is believed to be derived from the Latin name Vincentius, which means "conquering" or "victorious." The name Vincentius was later adapted into the Portuguese form Vicente, and the diminutive form Bento came into use as a surname.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Bento can be found in the Livro de Linhagens (Book of Lineages), a 14th-century Portuguese genealogical work. This manuscript mentions a certain Bento Soares, who lived in the 13th century and was a member of the nobility.

In the 15th century, there are records of a prominent figure named Bento Fernandes, who served as a royal scribe and notary during the reign of King Afonso V of Portugal (1432-1481). Fernandes played a crucial role in documenting important events and transactions of the Portuguese monarchy during that period.

Another notable individual with the surname Bento was Frei Bento de Caminha, a 16th-century Portuguese friar and explorer. He accompanied the first Portuguese expedition to Brazil in 1500, led by Pedro Álvares Cabral. Frei Bento de Caminha is best known for writing a letter to King Manuel I of Portugal, providing one of the earliest eyewitness accounts of the newly discovered land and its indigenous inhabitants.

During the Age of Portuguese Discoveries, the surname Bento spread beyond the borders of Portugal as Portuguese explorers, settlers, and missionaries ventured to various parts of the world. One such example is Pedro Bento da Silva (1570-1645), a Portuguese Jesuit missionary who traveled to Japan and worked to establish the Catholic Church there during the late 16th and early 17th centuries.

In the realm of arts and literature, one notable figure was António Bento (1585-1629), a Portuguese poet and playwright who was part of the Renaissance literary movement in Portugal. His works, such as the play "O Fidalgo Aprendiz" (The Nobleman Apprentice), were influential in shaping the development of Portuguese drama.

As the centuries passed, the surname Bento continued to be carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, and political figures. However, it is essential to note that this is not an exhaustive history, and there may be other significant individuals with the surname Bento who have contributed to various fields throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bento families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bento 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. Devon leads with 2 Bentos recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.88x.

County Total Index
Devon 2 49.88x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dartmouth Townstall in Devon leads with 2 Bentos recorded in 1881 and an index of 10000.00x.

Place Total Index
Dartmouth Townstall 2 10000.00x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Marcolino 1
Marelino 1

Top occupations

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 Bento households.

Occupation Count
Bandsman 1
Musician 1

FAQ

Bento surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bento surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Bento surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bento surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 140 in 2016. That gives Bento a modern rank of #24,865.

What does the Bento surname mean?

Portuguese and Galician surname derived from the Latin word "benedictus," meaning "blessed" or "well-spoken."

What does the Bento map show?

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