Show ContentsBenally History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Benally family

The surname Benally was first found in Cumberland at Beanlands Park where the name is derived from the Old English word "bean" + "land," literally meaning "dweller by the land on which beans grow." 1

Beanley is township and village in Alnwick union, on a hill, 2 miles south-west from Eglingham and 1 ½ miles east from Hedgeley station on the Alnwick and Cornhill branch of the North Eastern railway in Northumberland.

The first record of the family was found in Cumberland where Edward Beanlands held a family seat in 1307. The Beanland variant was listed much later: John Beanland in Yorkshire in 1672 and Edward Beanland, a Freeman of York in 1746. 1

Early History of the Benally family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Benally research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1455, 1487 and 1627 are included under the topic Early Benally History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Benally Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Benally include Beanley, Beanland, Benely, Beneland, Beenland and many more.

Early Notables of the Benally family

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

Benally Ranking

In the United States, the name Benally is the 5,931st most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 2

Migration of the Benally family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Benally or a variant listed above: settlers, who arrived along the eastern seaboard, from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands.


Contemporary Notables of the name Benally (post 1700) +

  • Rog Benally, American actor, known for Reservations (2015)
  • Beau Benally, American actor, known for Pete & Cleo (2010), More Than Frybread (2011) and Blue Gap Boy'z (2008)
  • Jeneda Benally, American bassist and co-vocalist in the Navajo punk rock band Blackfire, brother of Klee Benally
  • Klee Benally (b. 1975), American ead vocalist and guitarist of Navajo punk rock band Blackfire


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/


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