Benjamins History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England
• France

Etymology of Benjamins

The Benjamins surname is derived from the Hebrew personal name Benjamin, which literally means "son of the south," or "son of the right hand." The name most likely began to be used in England as a given name following the crusades, and was then taken on as a surname. Thus, the Benjamins surname is Hebrew in origin, but English as a surname, and may be carried by either Christians or Jews.

Early Origins of the Benjamins family

Early History of the Benjamins family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Benjamins research. Another 179 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1500 and 1850 are included under the topic Early Benjamins History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Benjamins Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Benjamins has appeared include Benjamin, Benjammin, Beniamin, Benjamini, Benjamen and many more.

Early Notables of the Benjamins family

Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Benjamins Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Benjamins Ranking

Netherlands, the name Benjamins is the 975^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,118 people with that name. 2

Migration of the Benjamins family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Benjamins arrived in North America very early: Richard Benjamin who arrived in Boston in 1632 and John Benjamin who arrived in Massachusetts in 1650. In the southern hemisphere the family name rose to prominence in the Australian colonies, where Benjamin Benjamin served as mayor of the city of Melbourne and was knighted in 1889..