Benninger History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The surname Benninger is derived from the Germanic given name Berno, which is derived from the Old German word bero, which means bear. This makes this name a patronymic surname; that is, derived from the personal name of an ancestor. Patronymic surnames arose out of the vernacular and religious given name traditions. The vernacular or regional naming tradition is the oldest and most pervasive type of patronymic surname. According to this custom, names were originally composed of vocabulary elements from the local language. Vernacular names that were derived from ancient Germanic personal names have cognates in most European languages. For example, the court of Charlemagne (742-814) was Christian and Latin-speaking, but the Frankish dialect of Old German was commonly used for personal names. Vernacular names were also widespread in Germany. As a result, many typical English and French names are of Germanic origin and have cognates in other European languages.

Early Origins of the Benninger family

The surname Benninger was first found in northern Germany, where the name was anciently associated with the tribal conflicts of the area. They declared allegiances to many nobles and princes of early history, lending their influence in struggles for power and status within the region. They branched into several houses, and their contributions were sought by many leaders in their search for power. Chronicles first mention Ludolf Benning of Stralsund in Pomerania around 1288. In Wuerttemberg, two separate towns took on the name Benningen, although their relation to any of the branches of the family is difficult to determine.

Early History of the Benninger family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Benninger research. Another 158 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1745 and 1813 are included under the topic Early Benninger History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Benninger Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Benning, Benne, Benningen, Benninger, Beningene, Bennigen, Bennig, Benniger, Benigen, Benig, Beninga (East Friesland), Benningsen and many more.

Early Notables of the Benninger family

Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Benninger Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Benninger Ranking

In the United States, the name Benninger is the 12,475^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Benninger migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Benninger Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Barbaria Benninger, aged 40, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1731 2
Peter Benninger, who arrived in America in 1751 2

Benninger Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Joseph Benninger, aged 32, who arrived in New York in 1896 aboard the ship "Allianca" from Colon R of C 3

Benninger Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

August Benninger, aged 28, originally from Shrieberdingen, Germany, who arrived in New York in 1900 aboard the ship "Weimar" from Bremen, Germany 3
George Benninger, aged 24, originally from Mannheim, Germany, who arrived in New York in 1904 aboard the ship "Kroonland" from Antwerp, Belgium 3
Anna Benninger, who arrived in New York in 1905 aboard the ship "Oceanic" from Liverpool, England 3
Myrtle Benninger, aged 19, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Panama" from Cristobal, C. Z. 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Benninger (post 1700) +

Tom Benninger, American financier who founded Global Leveraged Capital (GLC) in 2005
Christopher Charles Benninger (b. 1942), American architect, planner and professor at Harvard's Graduate School of Design (1969–1972)
Arch N. Benninger, American politician, Mayor of Clarksburg, West Virginia, 1979-80 4
Albert Charles Benninger (1884-1937), American Democratic Party politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Queens County 3rd District, 1913; Member of New York Democratic State Committee, 1930-37 4

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html