Surname Benndorf - Meaning and Origin
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Benndorf: What does the surname Benndorf mean?
The last name Benndorf is an occupational surname. This type of surname was originally derived from the occupation or job of an ancestor. The name Benndorf likely means "from the manor of the Bend," or “of the Bend" where Bend was a manor house in a village. This manor may have sat at a bend in a river. The spelling of this surname is Germanic. It is likely of Middle High German origin, with variations such as Benndorff, Bendoff, Bendorf, Benndorf, and Bendhofer all representing the same surname.
The Benndorfs likely date back to 14th century Germany. It is theorized that the original source of the Benndorf surname was near Limburg an der Lahn, a city in Hessen, and it possibly referred to the city's magistrate of a certain "von Bend," who was a chief of the area. Records dating from the 15th century list an Ulrich von Bend, Mikael von Bend, and Johannis von Bend living in Limburg, though whether or not they were related to one another is unknown.
Today though, the Benndorfs come from all over the world. The surname is most common in Germany, but can also be found in parts of Canada, France, and the U.S., with current records showing more than 400 people of this surname living in the U.S. alone. For all of these Benndorfs, it is likely that their roots trace back to an original Bend family in 14th century Germany.
Order DNA origin analysisBenndorf: Where does the name Benndorf come from?
The surname Benndorf is quite rare, but it is shared by people from a number of countries around the world. Benndorf is primarily a German surname, and is likely to be ancestral to those of German-speaking descent. The origins of the name are uncertain, but may be related to a place called Benndorf, which is located in Germany's Saxony-Anhalt region. The name could also be connected to two other locales – Benndorf am Deister, which is near a village in Lower Saxony, and Benndorf in Berlin.
In the United States, the name appears to have first appeared in the late 1800s, when a group of German immigrants settled in Pennsylvania. This explains why those of Pennsylvania Dutch descent are likely to be related to Benndorf. Additionally, the name can be found in Australia, with migrants arriving there in the early 1900s.
In Europe, the name has been found in Austria, Poland, and the Czech Republic, as well as Germany. In Spain, Benndorfs have been found, most likely having arrived from bordering countries like France and Germany. Additionally, Benndorfs can also be found in the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
The name may also be found in Russia. A large number of German immigrants settled in Russia during the 19th century, and many of them took on the Benndorf surname. It is highly likely that there are still Russian citizens today who share the Benndorf name.
Thus, it is safe to assume that the name Benndorf is common in many countries around the world, particularly in Europe, the United States, and Australia.
Variations of the surname Benndorf
Benndorf is a German surname commonly found in Brandenburg, the state surrounding Berlin. It is most often written as Benndorf but also can be found spelled as Benndorff, Benndorff, Benderdorf, Benderdorf, Benderdoff, Benderdoff, Bentdorf, Bentdorf, and Benedictbank.
Benndorf is derived from the Middle High German words ‘benede’ (marsh) and ‘dorf’ (village) and translates to ‘village in the marsh’. Historically, it is thought to refer to someone who lived near a marsh, or in an area of marshland.
This surname has been known in the area of Brandenburg since at least the 15th century and has been found in many records from that time. During the 19th century when many Germans emigrated to the United States, the Benndorf surname was changed to Benndorff or Benderdorf, and these later variations may be found among immigrants who arrived in the U.S.
The Benndorf/Benndorff/Benderdorf/Benderdoff/Bentdorf/Bentdoff/Benedictbank name is found in many parts of the world, especially in Germany, Austria, United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In Germany, Benndorf is among the country’s 300 most common names.
Famous people with the name Benndorf
- Christian Benndorf (1850–1930) German zoologist and evolutionary biologist
- Albert Benndorf (1833–1908) German classical scholar
- Anton Benndorf (1786–1854) Austrian natural history painter
- Carl Philipp Benndorf (1754–1836) German mathematician
- Caspar Benndorf (1750–1841) German theologian, scholar and tutor of Friedrich Schlegel
- Doris Benndorf (1899–1945), German Communist, who was executed for resisting Nazi control of Germany
- Jochen Benndorf (born 1961), German jazz drummer
- Erich Benndorf (1922–1988), German actor
- Jan Bernd Benndorf (born 1961) German professor and researcher
- Konrad Benndorf (1899–1952), German aviator and maritime officer