Surname Bennison - Meaning and Origin

Bennison: What does the surname Bennison mean?

The surname Bennison is of English origin and is considered a patronymic name; that is, it is derived from the personal name of an ancestor. It comes from the medieval given name "Ben," which is a shortened form of the Hebrew name Benjamin, meaning "son of the right hand," plus the suffix "-son," typically used in English names to denote "son of". Therefore, Bennison can be interpreted to mean "son of Ben." This name emerged during the era when the English language was evolving and the tradition of adopting surname became prevalent. It was primarily a means to distinguish individuals with the same personal names in the same vicinity. The exact geographic origin of Bennison isn't clearly defined but it's believed to be northern England or Scotland. The surname Bennison, like many surnames, may have different variations in spelling over time. As with most surnames, specific information such as the family's trade, social status or place of origin might be encoded into the name. However, for Bennison, such information isn't apparent from the name itself and would require in-depth genealogical research.

Bennison: Where does the name Bennison come from?

The surname Bennison is of English origin and is derived from the medieval personal name Bennis, which is a pet form of Benedict. Benedict comes from the Latin word "Benedictus" meaning "blessed". Hence, Bennison might be interpreted as "son of the blessed one." In some cases, it also might come from the personal name Dennis, which is in turn derived from Dionysius, the Greek god of vine.

The surname Bennison is quite rare and is not particularly concentrated in a specific geographic area. However, in contemporary times, it is found more frequently in England, specifically in areas such as Greater Manchester, Yorkshire, and Lancashire. According to Forebears, a site that gives the statistics of surnames all over the world, Bennison is the 36,663rd most common surname globally and is most prevalent in England with the highest density in Isle of Man. Additionally, there are also a number of individuals with this surname in other countries such as the United States and Australia, though to a lesser extent.

Variations of the surname Bennison

The surname Bennison has its roots in the medieval English era and is a derivative of the name 'Benedict'. This indicates that the surname likely arose as a patronymic name - that is, it was derived from the name of a father or male ancestor. Variations of the name could include: Bennison, Bennisson, Benison, and Benisson.

The origins of the Bennison surname may also be linked with the Scottish Gaelic clan MacBain, which was known as MacBheathain in Gaelic. In this context, other related surnames and spellings might include Bain, Bane, Bayne, Beaton, and MacBain.

Another possible origin of the Bennison surname is that it could be a locational surname derived from a geographic location, such as the region of Benesington (now Benson) in Oxfordshire, England. In this context, an additional variant of the surname could be Benson.

It's also worthy to note that surnames often changed their spelling over time due to a variety of factors, including regional dialects and literacy levels. This means there might be other less-recognized variations and spellings of the Bennison surname.

Famous people with the name Bennison

• Matthew Bennison: A British independent film director, editor and writer. He is known for "No More Lights in the Sky" (2018), "D.O.A." (2017) and "After Hours" (2021).
• Andrew Bennison: Known for his work as a writer in Hollywood during the early 20th century, including films such as "Up the River" (1930), "Destry Rides Again" (1932), and "The Girl Said No" (1930).
• Geoff Bennison: A well-known British antiques dealer and decorators of the 20th century. He inspires many modern day interior designs.
• Patricia Bennison: An Australian actress, who is best known for her roles in "Never Too Late" (2020), "Home and Away" (1988) and "Mortified" (2006).
• John Bennison: A long distance runner who competed in the early 20th century in the Boston Marathon and the Olympic Games. These individuals make up some of the most well-known figures with the surname Bennison.

Other surnames

Bennis