Show ContentsBenge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The history of the name Benge begins with the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from the German name Beringer. "Beringar ‘bear-spear’ [was] the name of one of the paladins in the Charlemagne romances and fairly common in England in the 12th and 13th centuries. " [1] "Beringer [was] a town in France, where a battle was fought between the French and the English." [2]

The surname Benge probably arrived in England shortly after the Norman Conquest of 1066, when the Normans imported many laborers from the continent in order to expedite their hold on England.

Early Origins of the Benge family

The surname Benge was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where Berengerus was recorded. [3] Later, Robertus filius Beregarii was listed in English Feudal Records in Lincolnshire c. 1150 and Bengerus was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for Bedfordshire in 1203. Belingar was found in Dorset in 1207 and Berenger faber in the Assize Rolls for Yorkshire in 1219. [1]

The variant Bengston "came from Bynna's homestead; one who came from Bensington (the village of the Benesingas), in Oxfordshire." [4]

Early History of the Benge family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Benge research. Another 195 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1208, 1420, 1457, 1500, 1520, 1523, 1572, 1778, 1782, 1790, 1791 and 1827 are included under the topic Early Benge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Benge Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore, spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Benge has been recorded under many different variations, including Benger, Benyger, Beniger, Beneger, Bengar, Benniger and many more.

Early Notables of the Benge family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • John Benger (died c. 1457), of Pewsey, Wiltshire, an English politician, He was a Member of the Parliament of England for Great Bedwyn in 1420; Richard Benger, English Vice-Chancellor of the Universit...
  • Elizabeth Ogilvy Benger (1778-1827), was an English author, "born at Wells, Somerset, in 1778. Her father was in trade in that city, but left it in 1782 for Chatham to get employment in the navy, and...

Benge Ranking

In the United States, the name Benge is the 4,884th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. [5]


United States Benge migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Benge or a variant listed above:

Benge Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • William Benge, who arrived in Virginia in 1619 aboard the ship "Mary Gold" [6]
  • Will Benge, who landed in Virginia in 1653 [6]

Australia Benge migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Benge Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • John Benge, aged 20, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Eliza" [7]
  • John Benge, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Eliza" in 1849 [7]

New Zealand Benge migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Benge Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Nicholas Benge, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • David Benge, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • David Benge, aged 36, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Catherine Stewart Forbes" in 1841
  • Sarah Benge, aged 34, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Catherine Stewart Forbes" in 1841
  • Elizabeth Benge, aged 6, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Catherine Stewart Forbes" in 1841
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Benge (post 1700) +

  • Elden Eugene Benge (b. 1904), American principal trumpet of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra from 1928-1933, founder of the Benge Company who made trumpets (1937-1953)
  • Jackson Lee "Jaxon" Benge, American guitarist for American punk rock band, Hed PE
  • Chris Benge (b. 1962), American politician, 33rd Oklahoma Secretary of State (2013-), Oklahoma Speaker of the House (2008-2011)
  • Raymond Adelphia Benge (1902-1997), American Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1925 to 1938
  • Bob Benge (1762-1794), American frontiersmen known as "Captain Benge" or "The Bench," one of the most feared Cherokee leaders on the frontier during the Chickamauga wars (1783-1794)
  • John W. Benge, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives from Hillsdale County, 1940 [8]
  • Chris Benge, American Republican politician, Member of Oklahoma State House of Representatives 68th District; Elected 2002 [8]
  • George Frederick "Wilson" Benge (1875-1955), English actor, active from 1922 to 1925, kn own for his roles in several Laurel and Hardy comedies
  • Howard Wilson Benge (1913-1986), New Zealand bronze medalist rower at the 1938 British Empire Games
  • Harvey Benge, New Zealand photographer
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
  3. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  4. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. 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)
  7. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ELIZA 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Eliza.htm
  8. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 1) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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