Contents [hide]

Benger History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Benger History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Benger is one of the oldest family names to come from 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 Benger 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 Benger family

The surname Benger 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 Benger family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Benger 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 Benger History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Benger Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Benger has undergone many spelling variations, including Benger, Benyger, Beniger, Beneger, Bengar, Benniger and many more.

Early Notables of the Benger 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...

Benger migration to the United States +

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Benger were among those contributors:

Benger Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Thomas Benger who arrived in Philadelphia in 1799

Benger Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Martin Benger in Philadelphia in 1871

Benger migration to Australia +

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

Benger Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Elizabeth Benger, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Asia" in 1839 5
George Benger, aged 40, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Prince Regent" 6

Benger 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:

Benger Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Henry Benger, aged 36, a labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Assaye" in 1874 7
Emily Benger, aged 30, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Assaye" in 1874 7
Amelia Benger, aged 11, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Assaye" in 1874 7
Alvina Benger, aged 7, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Assaye" in 1874 7
Mr. Henry Benger, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "Assaye" arriving in Auckland, North Island, New Zealand on 26th December 1874 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Benger (post 1700) +

Eliott Benger (d. 1751), Postmaster of Virginia, Deputy Postmaster General for North America
Elizabeth Ogilvy Benger (1775-1827), English biographer, novelist and poet from West Camel, Somerset
Marcel Benger (b. 1998), German professional footballer who plays as a defender for SC Verl
Sergeant William Joseph Benger MM (1894-1917), British First World War flying ace credited with five aerial victories over German Albatros D.V fighters
Walter Benger, Canadian politician, Mayor of Eastport, Newfoundland (1974-1982)

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
State Library of South Australia. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) ASIA 1839 from London with Captain Benjamin Freeman and 245 passengers, arrived Port Adelaide on 16-07-1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Asia-list.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) "PRINCE REGENT" 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849PrinceRegent.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html