Benz History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Medieval Austria is the ancient homeland of the Benz family. Austria, which was originally home to a Celtic people, was conquered by the Roman Empire in about 15 BC Following the fall of Rome, Austria was repeatedly invaded by barbarian tribes, such as the Vandals, Visigoths, and Huns, who swept in from the east. During the 5th and 6th centuries, the Alemanni, Avars and Slavs settled Austria. The Avars were defeated in 785 by the Frankish Emperor Charlemagne, who set up the East Mark, which later became known as the Österreich. Austria was ruled by the Babenburger dynasty until 1278, when they were succeeded by the Hapsburg dynasty, which ruled Austria until the 20th century.

Early Origins of the Benz family

The surname Benz was first found in Austria, where the name was closely identified in early mediaeval times with the feudal society which would become prominent throughout European history. The name would later emerge as a noble family with great influence, having many distinguished branches, and become noted for its involvement in social, economic and political affairs.

Early History of the Benz family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Benz research. Another 126 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1766 and 1839 are included under the topic Early Benz History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Benz Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Benz include Benz, Benns, Bennze, Benze, Bennse, Bense, Bensz and others.

Early Notables of the Benz family

During this period prominent bearers of the name Benz were

Johann Christoph Benz, founding father of the noble Tyrolian line, who was an influential advisor for commercial affairs at the courts of Bavaria and was honored with a title of nobility in 1766

Benz Ranking

In the United States, the name Benz is the 6,933^rd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. [1]

Benz migration to the United States +

Austria was made a republic after the First World War. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was broken up by the Treaty of Versailles and many of its people found themselves in the new nation of Czechoslovakia. Many other Austrians and expatriate Austrians made their way to North America in the 20th century. Most landed in Philadelphia, later continuing on to the states of Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Some Austrian settlers also went to western Canada and Ontario. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Benz or a variant listed above:

Benz Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johanes Benz, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1732
Verena Benz, who settled in Carolina in 1734
Verena Benz, who arrived in America in 1734 [2]

Benz Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Valentine Benz, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1848 [2]
Barbara Benz, aged 26, who landed in New York, NY in 1848 [2]
Henry Benz, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1848 [2]
Johan Daniel Benz, aged 32, who arrived in New York, NY in 1849 [2]
Carl Christian Benz, aged 22, who arrived in New York, NY in 1849 [2]
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Benz Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Rudolph Benz, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1906 [2]
Rudolphe Benz, who arrived in Mobile, Alabama in 1906

Contemporary Notables of the name Benz (post 1700) +

Karl Friedrich Benz (1844-1929), born Karl Friedrich Michael Vaillant, the German motor car pioneer, who designed and built a three wheel, chain-driven, water cooled internal combustion engined, coal oil fueled car in 1885, considered the first practical motorcar
Bertha Benz (1849-1944), née Ringer, a German automotive pioneer, wife and business partner of Karl Benz; she was the first person to drive an automobile over a long distance in 1886 thereby ensuring worldwide attention and getting the company its first sales
Larry Walker Benz (b. 1941), American NFL football safety who played from 1963 to 1965 for the Cleveland Browns
Julie M. Benz (b. 1972), American Satellite Award winning actress, known for her role as Darla on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel (1997-2004)
Derek Benz (b. 1971), American writer of fantasy fiction for children
George Albert Benz (b. 1926), American educator
Edmund Woodward Benz (b. 1911), American surgeon
Edward John Benz (b. 1923), American clinical pathologist
Walter G. Benz Jr., American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Army Air Forces, during World War II, credited with 8 aerial victories
Walter Benz (1931-2017), German mathematician, an expert in geometry
... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Benz family +

Bismarck

Wilhelm Benz (1911-1941), German Obersteuermann who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking [3]
Werner Benz (1921-1941), German Matrose who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking [3]

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)
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details