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Benns Family History

Benns Surname Meaning

English (East Anglia): variant of Benn with post-medieval -s.

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


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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Benns family from?

You can see how Benns families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Benns family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Benns families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 148 Benns families living in Yorkshire. This was about 30% of all the recorded Benns's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Benns families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Benns 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 Benns 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 Benns. 16% of Benns men worked as a General Labourer and 73% of Benns women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Benns were Butcher and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Benns | 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
    16%
  • Retired
    16%
  • Farmer
    12%
  • Butcher
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    73%
  • Unpaid Domestic Dut
    4%
  • Housekeeper
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    3%

What Benns family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 12,000 census records available for the last name Benns. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Benns census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Benns

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Benns. 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 Benns immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 614 military records available for the last name Benns. For the veterans among your Benns ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Benns military records

You've only scratched the surface of Benns family history

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What is the average Benns lifespan?

Between 1956 and 2004, in the United States, Benns life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1986, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Benns in 1956 was 49, and 89 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Benns

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Benns 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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