Contents [hide]

Bennison History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Bennison History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The Bennison surname is a patronymic, created from the Medieval given name Benne, which comes from the Latin word "benedictus," which means "blessed." Some instances of the surname may also be derived from the name of the village of Benson (Benington) in Oxfordshire (Bennesingtun in Old English). 1 2

While the parish dates back to ancient Roman and Saxon times, it was listed as Baenesington c. 900. By the time of the Domesday Book of 1086, the village was known as Besintone. 3 Literally, the place name means "estate associated with a man called Benesa," from the Old English personal name + "ing" + "tun." 4

Early Origins of the Bennison family

The surname Bennison was first found in Oxfordshire, where a Peter de Bensinton was recorded in the Curia Regis Rolls for 1208. 5

Henry de Benson was recorded in that same county in Oseney, in 1269. A family of the name was established from ancient times in the vicinity of Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire. The Gildea, Gildee and other spellings were adopted in Ireland and are explained in more detail later.

Some of the family branched in Yorkshire in the early years as Germanus Benson was listed as holding lands there in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. 1

Early History of the Bennison family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bennison research. Another 134 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1326, 1332, 1393, 1549, 1559, 1570, 1611, 1613, 1617, 1640, 1644, 1667, 1672, 1676, 1682, 1691, 1692, 1699, 1711, 1713, 1731, 1754, 1762, 1829, 1883, 1890 and 1896 are included under the topic Early Bennison History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bennison Spelling Variations

Bennison has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Bennison have been found, including Benson, Benison, Bensone, Bennison, Gildea, Gilday, Gildee, Bennsone, Bennisoun, Bennisone and many more.

Early Notables of the Bennison family

Distinguished members of the family include William Benson (died 1549), an English Benedictine, the last Abbot of Westminster and first Dean of Westminster; John Benson (died 1667), a London publisher, best remembered for an important publication of the Sonnets and miscellaneous poems of William Shakespeare in 1640; Robert Benson (1676-1731), English Member of Parliament, made Chancellor of the Exchequer 1711, created Lord Bingley in 1713; and Edward...
Another 66 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bennison Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bennison family to Ireland

Some of the Bennison family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 123 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bennison migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Bennisons to arrive on North American shores:

Bennison Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Eliza Bennison, who arrived in Virginia in 1648 6

Bennison Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Bennison, aged 40, who landed in New York in 1854 6

Bennison migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bennison Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. George Bennison U.E. (b. 1750) born in Yorkshire, England who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1783 he married widow Mary Timothy née Strong in 1781, they had 4 children 7

Bennison migration to Australia +

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

Bennison Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. William Bennison, English convict who was convicted in North Riding, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8

Bennison Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Robert Bennison, British Convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Batavia" in October 1817, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Mr. Matthew Bennison who was convicted in North Riding, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Camden" on 21st March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mr. Abraham Bennison, English convict who was convicted in West Riding, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Exmouth" on 3rd March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11

Contemporary Notables of the name Bennison (post 1700) +

Charles Ellsworth Bennison Jr. (b. 1943), American Episcopal clergyman, the 15th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania (1998-2012)
Andrew Bennison (1866-1942), American screenwriter and film director, known for Pardon My Scotch (featuring The Three Stooges in 1935), Pot o' Gold (1941) and Undercover Man (1936)
John F. Bennison, American Republican politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Montgomery County, 1941-50 12
Jason Dean Bennison (b. 1973), birth name of J.D. Fortune, a Canadian rock singer and songwriter
Ishia Bennison, British actress, known for her roles in The Awakening (1980), King David (1985) and Much Ado About Nothing (1984)

The Bennison 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: Si Deus quis contra?
Motto Translation: If God be with us who can be against us?.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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)
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 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/batavia
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/camden
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/exmouth
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html