Show ContentsBentine History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Bentine family

The surname Bentine was first found in Warwickshire at Binton, a parish, in the union of Stratford-Upon-Avon, Stratford division of the hundred of Barlichway. "This place is written Benintone in Domesday Book, and a family of the same name were lords of the manor during several reigns." 1

Alternatively the family could have originated at Little Benton, Longbenton in Northumberland, where the place name literally meant ‘dweller at the farm where bent grass or beans grow’, from the Old English word beonet/ bean + tun. 2 3 4

A scan of early rolls revealed that William de Benton held lands in Suffolk according to the Feet of Fines for 1234. Later, Simon de Beneton was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1275 and Richard Benton was listed in the Assize Rolls for London in 1450. 2

Early History of the Bentine family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bentine research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1754 and 1818 are included under the topic Early Bentine History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bentine Spelling Variations

The name, Bentine, occurred in many references, and from time to time, it was spelt Benton, Bentoun, Bentown, Benintone and others.

Early Notables of the Bentine family

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

Migration of the Bentine family

The New World beckoned settlers from the Scottish-English borders. They sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. Some called them, less romantically, the "coffin ships." Among the early settlers bearing the Bentine surname who came to North America were: Abigail Benton who settled in Virginia in 1642; George Benton settled in Barbados in 1669; Isabel Benton in Virginia in 1642; Robert in Virginia in 1635.


Contemporary Notables of the name Bentine (post 1700) +

  • Michael Bentine CBE (1922-1996), English comedian, comic actor and founding member of the Goons
  • Chester Bentine McLaughlin (1856-1929), American lawyer and politician from New York


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  4. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.


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