Bennewitz History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Those lands along the southeast coast of the Baltic sea were the birthplace of the great Prussian name Bennewitz. A single name was, at one time, all that people needed. However, increasing ease of travel and the burgeoning populations forced people to adopt a hereditary surname to set themselves apart from others. A common form of surname found in Prussia was the local name, a name taken on from an existing place-name. The surname Bennewitz was first used by someone who 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 family

The 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 family

This 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 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 Bennewitz include Bennewitz, Benwitz, Bennewitts, Benewitz, Bennswitz, Benwitts, Benwitz, Bannwitz, Banwitz, Beinewitz and many more.

Early Notables of the Bennewitz family

Notable 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 +

Prussia played an extremely influential role in shaping modern German history. It remained a part of Germany until after the Second World War. Prussia was divided among the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany and West Germany. Many Prussians became residents of these new countries after the War, and many migrated to other parts of Germany or Europe, as well as to North America. In the United States, the majority of settlers landed in Philadelphia, and moved on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Many German settlers also migrated to Canada, particularly to Ontario and the Prairies. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Bennewitz 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

Citations +

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)