Surname Bentz - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Bentz: What does the surname Bentz mean?
The surname Bentz has German origins and is derived from the Biblical name, Benedict. Benedict is a name of Latin roots and is composed of the elements "benedictus" meaning "blessed" and "bene" which means "well". Hence, this surname carries the connotation of being well-blessed or well-favored. It's also plausible that Bentz could have originated as a nickname for a good or blessed person. Over time, it transformed into a surname used by families across different regions, predominantly in Germany. An alternate spelling is "Benz", which gained global recognition through the German car manufacturer, Mercedes-Benz. Like many surnames, Bentz has likely been modified throughout numerous generations to fit cultural and linguistic shifts.
Order DNA origin analysisBentz: Where does the name Bentz come from?
The last name Bentz has German origins and is most commonly found in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. It is also very common in the United States, where it ranks as the 1430th most popular surname. According to Ancestry.com, the name “Bentz” is derived from the given name “Bent”, which is of unknown origin.
The majority of people with the last name Bentz are descendants of German immigrants who settled in the United States in the 19th century. The teams of settlers that arrived during this time primarily settled in the Midwestern states of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan as well as Pennsylvania and other Eastern states. In the 2000 US Census, the highest concentrations of Bentz were found in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Ohio.
Today, many people with the last name Bentz can be found in locations all over the United States, though they remain more common in the Midwest than in other parts of the country. They’re also very common in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, with the cities of Frankfurt, Berlin, Vienna, and Zurich seeing the highest concentrations of Bentz families. In all of these locations, the name Bentz is generally associated with loyalty, courage, and hard work.
Variations of the surname Bentz
The surname Bentz is a German family name, meaning “bent”, and tracing back to the Proto-Germanic “bentiz”. Variants of the name include Bennett, Bennet, Benning, Benson, Banning, Benninghoff, Benninghausen, and Benninger. Spelling variations including Beintz, Bents, Benedt, Bentzen, Bentzinger, Betz, or Benntz are all rooted in the same surname.
The surname evolved in various directions over time. In some cases, the spelling was influenced by dialect, so that Bentz became Beintz or Bentzen. In other cases, a dialect variant combined with the name of a location, resulting in Benninghausen, Benninghoff, or Benninger. Similarly, Bennett and Bennet both arose when the Anglo-Saxon version of Bentz was combined with the popular “-nett” ending.
While the variations may look different on paper, their root remains the same, often reflecting the story of a family’s journey through the countries of Europe at various times in history. Variations like Banning and Benning may have originated when the family crossed into Anglo-Saxon England, while others, like Benntz and Bentzinger, may have arisen in other German-speaking regions. Descended from both the ancient Germanic and Anglo-Saxon cultures, the Bentz family name carries the histories of two powerful cultures, bound together by the shared story of the family’s journey through time.
Famous people with the name Bentz
- Vanessa Bentz, American singer and former member of the Eurodance group Fun Factory.
- Karlheinz Bentz, German racing driver and engineer.
- Francis Bentz, American military officer during the War of 1812 and author of the first thorough study of the Battle of Lake Erie.
- Christian Bentz, American record producer and member of the hip-hop group Yalifalu.
- Jordan Bentz, American baseball player.
- Juan Bentz, former President of Costa Rica from 1917 to 1920.
- Brian Bentz, Canadian ice hockey player and broadcaster.
- Jens Bentz, Danish painter known for his urban and industrial art.
- Gordon Bentz, American chess master and instructor.
- Mario Bentz, Uruguayan filmmaker and actor.