Contents [hide]

Bennet History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Bennet History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Netherlands
England
Scotland
Ireland

The Bennet surname is derived from the Latin given name Benedictus, which means "blessed." It became a common given name throughout Europe due to the popularity of St. Benedict (c.480-550). By the 12th century, the name was found in versions derived directly from the Latin, as well as versions derived from Norman French. 1 "In the reigns of Edwards II. and III. the name is found thus modified: Fitz Benedict, Benediscite, Bendiste, Bendish, Bennett." 1

Early Origins of the Bennet family

The surname Bennet was first found in north Lancashire where a Benedictine monastery known as Furness Abbey was by founded by the Savigny monks of Normandy in 1127. Records from the 12th century show Benet as a common Baptismal name in the region, which then became a patronymic surname (Eg. Benet son of Alan). 2

There were other Benedictine monasteries in England, which also produced early instances of this surname. Magister Benet or Benedictus (d. 1226), Bishop of Rochester, "first emerges into history in connection with the struggle between William de Longchamp, bishop of Ely, chancellor and chief justice, and regent of the kingdom during the absence of Richard I in the Holy Land, and the Earl of Moreton, afterwards King John." 3

Willaston in Cheshire was home the family at early times. "Willaston Hall, an ancient brick building, was erected by the Bennett family in 1558, and continued to be their residence until a very late period." 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list many early spellings of the name throughout ancient England: Benedict, or Benett de Hankeston in Cambridgeshire; Beneyt Mercator in Cambridgeshire; Nicholas Beneit in Oxfordshire; and finally, Reginald filius Beneyt in Huntingdonshire. 2 The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed only one: Joanna Benet, doghter (daughter.)

Another source gives a better geographical understanding of the name: "Differently derived from the early personal name of Benedict and from 'benet,' a minor order of priests. In the Hundred Rolls for Cambridgeshire and Oxfordshire, in the reign of Edward I, it occurs frequently in the form of Beneyt. At present it is rare or absent north of Lincolnshire and Lancashire, but is well dispersed over the rest of England, being best represented in Cornwall, Derbyshire, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Notts, etc. It is singular that Bennetts is for the most part confined to Cornwall, the combination of the two varieties of the name placing this county at the head of the list." 5 This latter source was published in 1890 so the reader needs to bear that in mind that the regional distribution was at that time and has likely changed in today's era.

Early History of the Bennet family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bennet research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1208, 1250, 1301, 1327, 1594, 1597, 1599, 1601, 1603, 1604, 1605, 1609, 1614, 1616, 1618, 1619, 1628, 1631, 1652, 1653, 1660, 1661, 1663, 1667, 1673, 1675, 1683, 1685, 1693, 1695, 1701, 1786, 1809 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Bennet History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bennet Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Bennet are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Bennet include: Bennett, Bennet, Benett, Benet and others.

Early Notables of the Bennet family

Notables of the family at this time include

Sir Thomas Bennett, Sheriff of London in 1594, and Lord Mayor (1603-1604)
Sir Thomas Bennet, 1st Baronet (c. 1597-1667)
Sir Levinus Bennet, 2nd Baronet (1631-1693)
Sir Richard Bennet, 3rd Baronet (1673-1701)
Richard Bennett (1609-1675), an English Governor of the Colony of Virginia, born in Wiveliscombe, Somerset
Robert Bennet (1605-1683), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Cornwall (1653)
Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington KG, PC (1618-1685), an English statesman
John Bennet (1628-1663), an English landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1660 to 1663
Sir John Bennet of Dawley, Harlington, Middlesex

Bennet Ranking

In the United States, the name Bennet is the 6,372^nd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 6 However, in France, the name Bennet is ranked the 7,279^th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 7

Migration of the Bennet family to Ireland

Some of the Bennet family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 125 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bennet migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Bennet or a variant listed above:

Bennet Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Elizabeth Bennet, who landed in Virginia in 1622 8
James Bennet, from Kent, who arrived in New England in 1634 aboard the ship "Hercules", bound for Cambridge 8
Matthew Bennet, aged 18, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Paul" 8
Jo Bennet, aged 18, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Plain Joan" 8
Jane Bennet, aged 16, who landed in New England in 1635 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bennet Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Thomas Bennet, who arrived in Virginia in 1713 8
William Bennet, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1799 8

Bennet Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Patrick Bennet, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 8
John M Bennet, aged 47, who arrived in New York in 1812 8
Alexander Bennet, aged 52, who arrived in New York in 1812 8
Reuben Bennet, who arrived in New York in 1824 8
John P Bennet, aged 32, who landed in Key West, Ha in 1842 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bennet migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bennet Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

William Bennet, who settled in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1675 9
Peter Bennet, who arrived in Bay de Verde, Newfoundland in 1676 9

Bennet Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

John Bennet, who arrived in Old Perlican in, Newfoundland 1708 9
David Bennet, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1774
Corporal Bennet U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1783 10
Mr. James Bennet U.E. who settled in Home District, [Niagara], Lincoln County, Ontario c. 1783 10
Mr. Thomas Bennet U.E. who settled in New Brunswick c. 1783 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bennet Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

William and John Bennet, who arrived in Carbonear in 1804
Samuel Bennet, from county Wexford, was married in Tilton Harbour in 1819
John Bennet, who arrived in Canada in 1834
Samuel Bennet was a fisherman of Port au Bras, Newfoundland in 1860 9

Bennet migration to Australia +

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

Bennet Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. David Bennet, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Egyptian" on 5th April 1839, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 11
Mr. Thomas A. Bennet, (b. 1822), aged 19, Irish farm labourer from County Tyrone, Ireland departing on 8th July 1841 from Greenock, Scotland aboard the ship "New York Packet" arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 23rd October 1841 12
Miss Mary Bennet, English convict who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Emma Eugenia" on 22nd January 1846, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 13
A.B. Bennet, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Caspar" in 1849 14
Mr. Samuel Bennet, (b. 1837), aged 20, Cornish farm labourer departing from Plymouth aboard the ship "Fitzjames" arriving in Port Jackson, New South Wales, Australia on 1st April 1857 15

Bennet 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:

Bennet Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Bennet, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Mandarin" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 14th November 1843 16
Mr. Bennet, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Rajah" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 6th October 1853 17
Mr. Charles Bennet, (b. 1838), aged 18, British stable boy travelling from London aboard the ship "Isabella Hercus" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 4th January 1856 16
Miss Emma Bennet, (b. 1843), aged 15, British domestic servant travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Mystery" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 29th March 1859 16
Mr. John Bennet, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Spray of the Ocean" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 1st September 1859 17
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bennet migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 18

Bennet Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. Bartholomew Bennet, (b. 1617), aged 18, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Anne and Elizabeth" arriving in Barbados in 1635 19

Contemporary Notables of the name Bennet (post 1700) +

Douglas Joseph Bennet Jr. (1938-2018), American political official and 15th President of Wesleyan University, in Middletown, Connecticut (1995-2007)
Spencer Gordon Bennet (1893-1987), American film producer and director
Michael Farrand Bennet (b. 1964), American businessman, lawyer, and politician
Hiram Pitt Bennet (1826-1914), American Delegate from the Territory of Colorado
Meg Bennet (b. 1950), American screenwriter and actress
William Stiles Bennet (1870-1962), U.S. Representative from New York
Charles Bennet (1743-1822), 4th Earl of Tankerville, English cricket pioneer
William Bennet, English 18th century civil engineer
Abraham Bennet FRS (1749-1799), English clergyman and physicist, inventor of the gold-leaf electroscope
Henry Grey Bennet (1777-1836), English politician
... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Bennet Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: De bon vouloir servir le roy
Motto Translation: To serve the king with right good will.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 26th January 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/egyptian
Ship Voyages to New South Wales (Retrieved 18th November 2020). Retrieved from http://indexes.records.nsw.gov.au/ebook/list.aspx?Page=NRS5316/4_4782/New%20York%20Packet_23%20Oct%201841/4_478200095.jpg&No=197
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 4th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emma-eugenia
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The CASPAR 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Caspar.htm
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nsw_1850_59.pdf
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved 23rd September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm