Show ContentsBenecke History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The German state of Prussia, which reached the zenith of its power in the late 19th century, is the glorious birthplace of the distinguished surname Benecke. In the medieval era, after the fall of the Roman Empire, the German lands were inhabited by a variety of Barbarian tribes. The borders of the Barbarian kingdoms changed frequently, but the region that became known as Prussia was roughly divided between the areas of Brandenburg-Prussia, West Prussia, and East Prussia. The colorful history of Brandenburg-Prussia provides a glimpse at the oldest origins of the Benecke family.

Early Origins of the Benecke family

The surname Benecke was first found in Brandenburg, where the name Benckendorf emerged in mediaeval times as one of the notable families of the region. From the 13th century the surname was identified with the great social and economic evolution which made this territory a landmark contributor to the development of the nation.

Early History of the Benecke family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Benecke research. Another 113 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1400, 1468, 1480 and 1757 are included under the topic Early Benecke History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Benecke Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Benecke include Benckendorf, Benkendorf, Beneckendorff, Benckendorff, Benckenndorf, Benkkendorf, Benkendorfer and many more.

Early Notables of the Benecke family

Notable figures of the time with the name Benecke were

  • General Major Caspar Friedrich von Beneckendorf
  • Paul Beneke, also Paul Benecke, (c. 1400-c. 1480) was a German town councillor of Danzig and a privateer. During the Anglo-Hanseatic War, Beneke overpowered an English fleet at Zween in 1468. He is on...


United States Benecke migration to the United States +

Since medieval times, the state of Prussia has played an important part in the history of Germany. The state's military powers were historically very strong, and endured until after the Second World War, when the territory was broken up and divided between the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany and West Germany. A spurt of migration followed, with some Prussians going elsewhere in Europe and many others crossing the ocean to North America. Most entered the United States through Philadelphia. Some remained there, while more moved on to the states of Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Others traveled to Canada and settled Ontario and the prairie provinces. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Benecke or a variant listed above:

Benecke Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Heinr Benecke, who arrived in America in 1780 [1]
  • August Benecke, who arrived in Long Island in 1781 [1]
  • Conrad Benecke, who arrived in America in 1783 [1]
  • Friedrich Benecke, who arrived in America in 1783 [1]
  • Carl, Benecke Sr., who landed in Pennsylvania in 1793 [1]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Benecke Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • P A Benecke, who landed in New York, NY in 1850 [1]
  • Heinrich Benecke, who landed in America in 1850 [1]
  • Gottfried Benecke, who landed in Texas in 1858 [1]
  • Frederick Benecke, who landed in Texas in 1858 [1]

Contemporary Notables of the name Benecke (post 1700) +

  • Robert Benecke (1835-1903), German-born, American photographer who worked primarily in the St. Louis area in the latter half of the 19th century; he received considerable acclaim for his exhibit at the 1869 St. Louis Fair, and was among the earliest Americans to experiment with the artotype process in the early 1870s
  • Louis Benecke (1843-1919), German-born, American businessman, lawyer, and politician who served in the Missouri Senate from 1869 to 1875, bother of Robert Benecke
  • Ruby Waldo Benecke, American Republican politician, Candidate for Missouri State House of Representatives from Chariton County, 1920, 1944, 1946; Delegate to Missouri State Constitutional Convention 6th District, 1943-44
  • Louis Benecke, American Republican politician, Member of Missouri State Senate 6th District, 1871-74; Delegate to Republican National Convention from Missouri, 1888 (alternate), 1908
  • Wilhelm Christian Benecke von Gröditzberg (1779-1860), German banker, merchant, estate owner and art collector who was ennobled in 1829 as Benecke von Gröditzberg
  • Lydia Benecke (b. 1982), German criminal psychologist and writer of popular science non-fiction
  • Christina Benecke (b. 1974), German bronze medalist volleyball player for the German Women's National Team
  • Berthold Adolph Benecke (1843-1886), German anatomist and embryologist
  • Mark Benecke (b. 1970), German forensic biologist
  • Emil Benecke (1898-1945), German water gold and silver medalist polo player at the 1928 and 1932 Summer Olympics
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bismarck
  • Friedrich Benecke (1921-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking [2]


  1. 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)
  2. Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details


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