Surname Beninga - Meaning and Origin

Beninga: What does the surname Beninga mean?

The last name Beninga, is of Dutch origin, and is derived from the Old German personal name Benning, which itself originates from the Nordic and Germanic element “Bert” meaning “bright” or “shining.”

Beninga can be found in many regions of the Netherlands as a family ancestral surname, and some families with the name can be traced back to the 13th century. The first part of the name, Bening is a patronymic form of the given name Benning, and the suffix “a” is a common Dutch patronymic ending.

Throughout the centuries, a few related variations of the name Beninga have appeared in records and on official documents, such as “Bening, Beninck, Beninc and Benninga.”

The name is associated with good luck in the Netherlands, and it is not uncommon for children to be named Beninga as a reminder of the supposed strength and power of the ancient Benning tribe. In modern times, many Beningas are working in positions of law, finance and engineering, and there is also a small but significant amount involved in the arts, political activism and media.

Beninga is a long-standing and proud name in the Netherlands, and the hard-working, innovative and optimistic spirit of the Benning tribe continues to influence people today.

Beninga: Where does the name Beninga come from?

The last name Beninga is most commonly found in The Netherlands and Germany. In The Netherlands, the name is particularly common in the northern and western part of the country, while in Germany, the surname is found mainly in the northern and central regions.

In terms of migration patterns, people with the last name Beninga have spread out from these parts of Europe throughout the centuries and can be found in places like the United States, Australia, South Africa, and even Canada. In the United States, the surname is concentrated mainly in the states of Iowa, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ohio.

In terms of origin, the last name Beninga is believed to have first been used in The Netherlands during the medieval period. It derives from the Dutch words “bening,” meaning “benevolent” or “benign,” and “aarde,” meaning “earth.” Thus, the surname can be translated to mean “benign earth” or “prosperous land.”

Despite originating centuries ago, the last name Beninga is still widely used today. It can be found in many different countries around the world, but its highest concentration can still be found in its countries of origin: The Netherlands and Germany.

Variations of the surname Beninga

Beninga is a surname of Dutch origin and it has various spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin.

The most common variant of the surname Beninga is Bening. Other variants include Beningea, Beningen, Beninger, Beningh, Beninghoven, Beninghof and Bunning, with multiple spellings for several of these variants.

Surnames of the same origin include Benning, Benninga, Benninger, Bennings, Benninghoff, Bennighoff, Benninghoven, Benninghaufen, Benigna, Benigno, Benigni, Benigio, Benin, Benine, Benino and Benigni.

Variations on the spelling of Beninga include Beesinga, Bendynga, Benninsga and Beeniga. Variations within the same family, such as Benignus for Beninga, Benignia for Beningea, Benniger for Beninger, Benninghaaf for Beningh and Beningaaf for Beninghoven, are also common.

Those with the surname Beninga can trace their ancestry back to the Netherlands, especially the areas of Groningen, Friesland, Overijssel and Drenthe. The name is derived from a place name, indicating a geographical origin.

In addition, there are also those with the surname Beninga of German and Jewish origin. The Jewish side of the surname is derived from the Hebrew name Benjamin, meaning "son of the right hand".

It is possible that multiple branches of the Beninga have existed over the years, as well as that some families bearing the surname Beninga have changed the spelling of their name to one of its many variants or of another surname of the same origin.

Famous people with the name Beninga

• Annette Bening: Academy Award-nominated actress known for her roles in “American Beauty”, “Being Julia” and “The Grifters”.
• Warren Beninga: Dutch field hockey player for the Netherlands national team who participated in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
• Andre Beninga: Brazilian soccer player who has played for numerous teams in the Brazilian first division, as well as the Swiss and Turkish leagues.
• Jiří Běnínga: Czech footballer who has also played in the first division of the Czech Republic and in Kazakhstan.
• Jorge Beninga: Argentine hockey player, who played for the Argentine national team in numerous tournaments.
• Maude Beninga: French filmmaker and dancer, known for her documentary film “Por Delante, Por Detrás”.
• Paul Beninga: Luxembourg-born composer and musician who has released several albums.
• Bart Beninga: Dutch sailor who participated in the 1976 Summer Olympics.
• Carol Beninga: American swimmer who won four NCAA titles and represented the U.S. in the 1956 and 1960 Olympics.
• Okay Beninga: Turkish voice-over artist who has done work in nearly thirty languages.

Other surnames

BeningBeninger