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Benn Family History

Benn Surname Meaning

English: from the Middle English personal name Ben(ne) which is in part a short form of Benet (see Benedict). This surname is also common among African Americans; as such it may possibly also be a variant of Ben.

North German: from a short form of the personal name Bernhard.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Benn family from?

You can see how Benn families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Benn family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Benn families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 736 Benn families living in Yorkshire. This was about 44% of all the recorded Benn's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Benn families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Benn 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 Benn ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Benn. 17% of Benn men worked as a General Labourer and 72% of Benn women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Benn were Incapacitated and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Benn | 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 Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    17%
  • Painter decorator
    6%
  • Farmer
    6%
  • Incapacitated
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    72%
  • Private Means
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%

What Benn family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 61,000 census records available for the last name Benn. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Benn census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Benn

Passenger Lists

There are 8,000 immigration records available for the last name Benn. 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 Benn immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 5,000 military records available for the last name Benn. For the veterans among your Benn ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Benn military records

You've only scratched the surface of Benn family history

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What is the average Benn lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Benn life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1995. The average life expectancy for Benn in 1944 was 28, and 69 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Benn

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Benn 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.

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