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![Show Contents]() Bennewitz Surname History
- Origins Available:
 Germany
The name Bennewitz comes from Prussia, a historic region that originally encompassed the coastal lands of the southeast Baltic, but over time expanded to include much of Poland and the majority of Germany. In pre-medieval times, these Prussians used only one name, but later they were forced by a growing population to adopt hereditary surnames so that they would remain distinct from the many others with the same first name. Local names were often chosen. They originally indicated land ownership, and frequently carried the prefix von, meaning "of" or "from", which is often taken as an indication of aristocratic lineage. Bennewitz was a name for some one lived in the village of Bennewitz which is between Halle and Schkeuditz. The oldest branch of the family owned the estate named Beinewitz, which is now Bennewitz near Torgau, since the early 14th century. Early Origins of the Bennewitz familyThe surname Bennewitz was first found in Brandenburg, where this family name became a prominent contributor to the development of the district from ancient times. Always prominent in social affairs, the family became an integral part of that turbulent region as it emerged to form alliances with other families within the Feudal System and the nation. The earliest form of the name was Beinewitz or Bienewitz, and the oldest branch of the family owned the estate Beinewitz (now Bennewitz near Torgau) as early as 1300. Other chronicles suggest that the family originated in the village Bennewitz between Halle and Schkeuditz. Early History of the Bennewitz familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bennewitz research. Another 133 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1451, 1495, 1541 and 1592 are included under the topic Early Bennewitz History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Bennewitz Spelling VariationsMany cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Bennewitz include Bennewitz, Benwitz, Bennewitts, Benewitz, Bennswitz, Benwitts, Benwitz, Bannwitz, Banwitz, Beinewitz and many more. Early Notables of the Bennewitz familyNotable figures of the time with the name Bennewitz were - Petrus Apianus Bennewitz (1495-1592), who was a professor of Mathematics at Ingolstadt
 Bennewitz migration to the United States | + |
The state of Prussia was a great influence on the shape of modern Germany. After the Second World War, Prussia's land was divided among the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany and West Germany and the state was abolished. Some Prussians remained in those countries after the war, while many others migrated to North America in search of a new start. Philadelphia was their primary point of entry to the United States, after which many of them moved on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. A large number of Prussians also migrated to Ontario and the prairie provinces as United Empire Loyalists. Analysis of immigration records has shown some of the first Bennewitzs to arrive in North America, and among them were:
Bennewitz Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Johannes Bennewitz, who arrived in New York, NY in 1782 1
Bennewitz Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Theodor Bennewitz, who settled in Texas in 1843 with his wife and child
- John C Bennewitz, who landed in Minnesota in 1852 1
| Contemporary Notables of the name Bennewitz (post 1700) | + |
- Rick Bennewitz (1936-1999), American television soap opera director
- Paul Bennewitz (d. 2005), American businessman, involved in American UFO Conspiracies
- Antonín Bennewitz (1833-1926), Czech violinist, conductor and teacher
- Dr. Roland Bennewitz Bennewitz, Professor of Physics at McGill University
- Dr. Roland Bennewitz Bennewitz, Professor of Physics at McGill University
- 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)
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Bennewitz migration to the United States 
