Benitez History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The distinguished surname Benitez comes from Spain, a country rich in culture and history. This name is patronymic name derived from the Latin name Benedictus, which means blessed. The name was very popular during the Middle Ages because of popular devotion to the Italian saint Benedictus, who founded the Benedictine Order in 529.
Early Origins of the Benitez family
The surname Benitez was first found in Asturias, where the name had its origins during the reign of the Visigothic kings.
Early History of the Benitez family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Benitez research. Another 76 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1002 is included under the topic Early Benitez History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Benitez Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Benítez, Benitez, Benites, Benito, Benedítez, Beneditez, Benedito, Benedicto, Beneyto, Beneitez and many more.
Early Notables of the Benitez family
More information is included under the topic Early Benitez Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Benitez Ranking
In the United States, the name Benitez is the 1,492nd most popular surname with an estimated 19,896 people with that name. 1 However, in South America, the name Benitez is ranked the 39th most popular surname with an estimated 96 people with that name. 2
Benitez migration to the United States +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Benitez Settlers in United States in the 16th Century
- Juan Benitez, who settled in America in 1528
- Alonso Benitez, who settled in New Spain in 1536
- Ana de Puertocarrero Benitez, who settled in Peru in 1579
Benitez Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- Antonia Benitez, who settled in New Orleans in 1779
- Ana Benitez, who arrived in New Orleans in 1779
Benitez Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Francisco Benitez, who arrived in America in 1817 3
- Jose Benitez, who settled in Puerto Rico in 1821
- Pero Benitez, who arrived in America in 1827 3
- Juan Benitez, who landed in America in 1828 3
- Marcos Benitez, who arrived in Rio de la Plata in 1835 3
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Benitez migration to West Indies +
The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association.
4Benitez Settlers in West Indies in the 16th Century
- Cristobal Benitez, who settled in Dominican Republic in 1538
Benitez Settlers in West Indies in the 19th Century
- Cristobal Benitez, who arrived in Dominican Republic in 1838 3
Contemporary Notables of the name Benitez (post 1700) +
- Ramon Benitez, American politician, Independent Candidate for Virgin Islands legislature from St. Croix, 2002 5
- Jose Benitez, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Puerto Rico, 1952, 1956; Puerto Rico Democratic Party chair, 1955-58 5
- Celeste Benitez, American politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Puerto Rico, 1996; Popular Democratic Candidate for Resident Commissioner to U.S. Congress from Puerto Rico, 1996 5
- Antonio Fernández Benítez (1942-2022), Spanish professional football player and manager, active from 1960 to 1996
- Manuel Benítez, Spanish bullfighter
- Helena Zoila Tirona Benitez (1914-2016), Filipina academic and administrator
- Elsa Benítez (b. 1977), Mexican model
- Armando Germán Benítez (b. 1972), Dominican Major League Baseball player
- Wilfredo Benítez, 1979 world boxing welterweight champion
- Cristóbal Benítez, Venezuelan jurist and law professor
- ... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Citations +
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- "List of most common surnames in South America." Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_common_surnames_in_South_America
- 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)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 1) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html