Bene History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Italy
Scotland

The distinguished surname Bene originated in an area of Italy, known as the Papal States. Although people were originally known only by a single name, it became necessary for people to adapt a second name to identify themselves as populations grew and travel became more frequent. The process of adopting fixed hereditary surnames was not complete until the modern era, but the use of hereditary family names in Italy began in the 10th and 11th centuries. Italian hereditary surnames were developed according to fairly general principles and they are characterized by a profusion of derivatives coined from given names. The most traditional type of family name found in the region of the Papal States is the patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name. During the Middle Ages, Italians adopted the patronymic system of name-making because it perfectly complemented the prevailing Feudal System. In Italy the popularity of patronymic type of surname is also due to the fact that during the Christian era, people often named their children after saints and biblical figures. The surname Bene came from the Italian personal name "Beno." Further research showed the name was derived from the Latin word bene which means well, in good health.

Early Origins of the Bene family

The surname Bene was first found in Gubbio, a city in the region of Umbria. The family can be traced back to the 10th century, when Federigo Beni of Gubbio became mayor of Mantua and eventually senator of Milan.

The name means "benign," "friendly," or "harmless." The name therefore probably originated as a nickname for a man who displayed those characteristics.

Early History of the Bene family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bene research. Another 102 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1618, 1650, 1660, 1684, 1780, 1784, 1787 and 1877 are included under the topic Early Bene History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bene Spelling Variations

Surnames that originated in Italy are characterized by an enormous number of spelling variations. Some of these are derived from regional traditions and dialects. Northern names, for instance, often end in "o", while southern names tend to end in "i". Other variations come from the fact the medieval scribes tended to spell according to the sound of words, rather than any particular set of rules. The recorded variations of Bene include Beni, Bene, Del Bene, Benelli, Benella, Benini, Benigni, Benucci, Benuzzi, Benussi, Benocci, Benozzi, Benolli, Benoli, Benotti, Benotto, Benoni, Benone, Benacci, Benassi, Benazzi, Benazzoli, Benacchio, Benaglio, Benaglia, Benanti, Benati, Benato, Bennato and many more.

Early Notables of the Bene family

Prominent among bearers of this family in early times was

Giacomo Beni, Bishop of Fano, and Giuseppe Beni was Bishop of Carpentras in the 18th century. The Beni family of Gubbio owned vast amounts of land and were Counts. Prominent members of the Bene family du...

Bene Ranking

In France, the name Bene is the 7,951^st most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 1

Bene migration to the United States +

An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Bene arrived in North America very early:

Bene Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

James Bene, who landed in New England in 1651 2
William Bene, who arrived in Virginia in 1695 2

Bene Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jacob Bene, who arrived in Frederick County, Maryland in 1701 2
John Rinehard Bene, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1738 2
Hans Rinerd Bene, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1738 2

Bene Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Ludwig Bene, aged 33, who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Herschel" 2
Mrs. Louise Bene, (nee Wense, Behne), German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1846 aboard the ship "Karl Ferdinand"
Mr. Otto Bene, (Behne), German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1846 aboard the ship "Karl Ferdinand"
Ludwig Bene, (Behne), who arrived in Galveston, Tex in 1846 aboard the ship "Karl Ferdinand" 2
Arthur Bene, (Behne), who arrived in Galveston, Tex in 1846 aboard the ship "Karl Ferdinand" 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Bene (post 1700) +

Bene S. Pigman, American politician, Member of Maryland State House of Delegates from Frederick County, 1817, 1821; Member of Maryland State Senate from Western Shore, 1831-36 3

Citations +

http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 4) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html