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Benks Family History

Benks Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Banks, Benis, Benko, Benes, Jenks, Becks, Binks, Berks, Benke, Bens

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Benks family from?

You can see how Benks families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Benks family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Benks families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 2 Benks families living in Surrey. This was about 40% of all the recorded Benks's in United Kingdom. Surrey had the highest population of Benks families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Benks surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Benks ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Benks. 90% of Benks women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Benks | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    90%
  • Incapacitated
    11%

What Benks family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Benks. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Benks census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Benks

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Benks. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Benks immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 142 military records available for the last name Benks. For the veterans among your Benks ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Benks military records

You've only scratched the surface of Benks family history

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What is the average Benks lifespan?

Between 1971 and 1998, in the United States, Benks life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1971, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Benks in 1971 was 67, and 94 in 1998.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Benks

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Benks ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Benks family tree

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