Surname Benjamin - Meaning and Origin

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U. Benjamin

Benjamin: What does the surname Benjamin mean?

The surname Benjamin traces its origin from Hebrew, derived from the biblical figure, 'Benjamin', who was the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel in the Old Testament. 'Benjamin' is composed of two elements: 'ben', meaning "son" and 'yamin', meaning "right hand" or "south". Thus, the name is often interpreted to mean "son of the right hand" or "son of the south". As a surname, Benjamin is prevalent among Jews, stemming from the tradition of naming children after this beloved biblical figure. In certain cultures, the surname Benjamin also has connotations of 'favorite son' or 'fortunate son', keeping in line with the biblical story of Benjamin who was particularly cherished by his father. As diaspora Jews migrated to different parts of the world, they carried with them this surname, leading to its distribution in various countries today.

Benjamin: Where does the name Benjamin come from?

The last name Benjamin originates from the Hebrew personal name Binyamin, which means 'son of the right hand' or 'son of the south'. The name was borne by the youngest of the twelve sons of Jacob in the Bible, who was the founder of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The popularity of this given name in the Jewish tradition led to its use as a surname.

Today, the surname Benjamin is common not only among Jews but has also spread among Christian communities, especially in English-speaking countries. It is widespread in the United States and England. Additionally, due to historical migrations and the influence of the British Empire, you can find individuals with the surname in various parts of the world including Australia, Canada, and the Caribbean nations, such as Trinidad and Tobago. The use of first names as last names has also contributed to the prevalence of Benjamin as a surname in these regions.

Variations of the surname Benjamin

The surname Benjamin is of Hebrew origin and means "son of the right hand". It has several variants and spellings based on cultural and regional differences.

Some common variants include Benjamins, Benjamen, Benjamens, Benjemin, Benjiman, Benjaminson, Benjamensson, Benjaminsen, Benjaminsson, and Benyamin.

The surname also has several different spellings seen around the world. In France, it might be spelled as Benjamin or Benjamain. In Germany, it could be Benjamann or Benjaminn. In Italy, it could be seen as Benjamino, and in Spain, it could be Benjamín with an accent mark.

As for surnames of the same origin, since Benjamin is a Biblical name, other surnames with similar roots include Jacobs, Israel, and Abram (or Abrams). Other surnames that come from Hebrew given names, like Benjamin, include Josephson, David, Samuelson, and Solomon.

It's also worth noting that Benjamin can also be used as a first name. Pseudonyms may also be formed using Benjamin as the root, such as de Benjamine or Van Benjamin.

Given name variants include Ben, Benny, Benjie, or Jamie. Despite the various forms, all versions connect to the original meaning of Benjamin.

Famous people with the name Benjamin

• Andre Benjamin: An American musician and actor, more commonly known by his stage name Andre 3000.
• Richard Benjamin: An American actor and film director known for his roles in films during the 1970s.
• H. Jon Benjamin: An American actor, comedian and writer, best known for his voice acting in various animated TV series such as "Archer" and "Bob's Burgers."
• Benjamin Benjamin: A fictional character from two Charlie Chaplin films.
• Jessica Benjamin: An American sociologist known for her work on psychoanalysis and feminism.
• Florent Benjamin: A French judoka who competed in the men's middleweight event at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
• Joel Benjamin: An American International Grandmaster in chess.
• Ben Benjamin: An indie electronic musician from Michigan.
• Shelton Benjamin: An American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE.
• Harry Benjamin: An American sexologist, known for his pioneering work in transgender studies.
• Shelley Benjamin: An American former field hockey defender, who earned 80 caps for the women's national team.
• Jonny Benjamin: A mental health campaigner and vlogger from London.
• Chris Benjamin: A South African cricketer.

Other surnames

BenjaminsBenjaminson