Bennice History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestors of the bearers of the Bennice family name are thought have lived in ancient Anglo-Saxon England. They were first found in Cheshire and Lancashire. Originally, the surname was derived from the Old English word beonet, which meant by the grassy plain. 1 Other records show that the name was also a nickname derived from the Christian name Bennet or Benjamin and was frequently used by the Benedictine monks.

Early Origins of the Bennice family

The surname Bennice was first found in Cheshire and Lancashire, but we must look to Northumberland for the first listing of the surname; for it is there that we find Nicholas Bent listed in the Assize Rolls of 1256. 1

Later, the Subsidy Rolls of 1327 in Staffordshire list Adam del Bent. 1 Robert de la Bende was listed in Shropshire during the reign of Edward III (1327-1377.) 2

James Ben, Bane, Bene, Bennet or Biort (d. 1332), was Bishop of St. Andrews, trained from his youth for the church. "As Archdeacon of St. Andrews he was sent to France in 1325, along with three other dignitaries, to renew an offensive and defensive alliance with that country. In the original document his name occurs as Bene; he is subsequently mentioned as Sir James Bane; by Fordun he is called Jacobus Benedicti; while the name on his tombstone was Jacobus dominus de Biurt. " 3

Early History of the Bennice family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bennice research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1600 and 1680 are included under the topic Early Bennice History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bennice Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Bennice include Bent, Benn, Ben, Bente, Bend and others.

Early Notables of the Bennice family

More information is included under the topic Early Bennice Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bennice family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Bennice or a variant listed above: John Bent who arrived in the sailing ship "Confidence" from Southampton in 1638; Joseph Bent settled in Marlborough; Stephen Benn settled in Virginia in 1637.

The Bennice 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: Nec temere, nec timide
Motto Translation: Neither rashly nor timidly.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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