Benge Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Benge Origin:

England

Origin of Benge:

This unique surname originates from the Kentish area of England which is extraordinary as the origins are Germanic – Anglo Saxon. The name derives from the word “Benzo”, a word dating to the beginning of the 7th Century. The name today can be found in the surnames Benz, Benge, Bence and probably Bench, and recorded in England during the period of Norman Invasion (1066). The name’s recorded history consists of William Bence (1275, Oxford), Semon Bencelyn (1327, Suffolk), Robert Benche (1279, Cambridge) at the same time Maryn Bengs is listed at St. Michaels, Bassishaw, in London in 1567 and John Benge who was christened at St. Martins in the Field, Westminster on April 1585 in the period of Queen Elizabeth I.

Variations:

More common variations are: Beange, Bengey, Bengeh, Bwenge, Benage, Bengea, Bhenge, Bengie, Bienge, Buenge.

England:

The surname Benge can be found in Gloucestershire, where they held a family seat from early times.

The very first recorded spelling of the family name was shown to be that of Osmund Benz, dated 1086, in The Domesday Book, Derbyshire. It was during the time of King William I who was known to be the “Conqueror,” 1066 – 1087. The origin of surnames during this period became a necessity with the introduction of personal taxation. It came to be known as Poll Tax in England. Surnames all over the country began to develop, with unique and shocking spelling varieties of the original one.

United States of America:

Individuals with the surname Benge settled in the United States in the 17th century. Some of the people with the name Benge who settled in the United States in the 17th century included William Benge, who arrived in Virginia in 1619 and Will Benge, who landed in Virginia in 1653.

Australia:

Individuals with the surname Benge settled in the Australia in the 19th century. Some of the people with the name of Benge who settled in Australia in the 19th Century included John Benge at the age of 20, arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship “Eliza.” John Benge arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship “Eliza” in 1849.

New Zealand:

Individuals with the surname Benge settled in New Zealand in the 19th century. Some of the people with the name of Benge who settled in New Zealand in the 19th Century included Nicholas Benge and David Benge both landed in Wellington, New Zealand in the same year in 1840. David Benge at the age of 36 who was a farm laborer, Sarah Benge at the age of 34, and Elizabeth Benge, at the age of 6, all arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Catherine Stewart Forbes” in the same year in 1841.

Here is the population distribution of the last name Benge: United States 5,055; England 839; Angola 4,802; Indonesia 550; New Zealand 395; Tanzania 219; Zimbabwe 86; Australia 195; Canada 76; South Africa 164.

Notable People:

Alfreda Benge (born 1940), a British composer and cartoonist. She was born in 1940 in Austria to a Polish mother and came to England in 1947. She got married to a singer Robert Wyatt in the year 1974.

Bob Benge (1762–1794), was an American Indian chief. He was one of the most worrisome Cherokee chiefs during the Cherokee–American battles (1783-1794) in the area of Tennessee.

Chris Benge (born 1962), was an American congressman from Oklahoma.

Elden Benge (1904–1960), was an American manufacturer. He was born in July 1904 in Winterset, Iowa, and was a trumpet player for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

Fred Benge was a New Zealand football player.

Harvey Benge is a New Zealand cameraman who lives in Auckland and Paris. He has presented his work in European exhibitions.

Howard Benge (1913–1986), was a New Zealand rower.

Ray Benge (1902–1997) was an American baseball player. He was the leader in the National League in Home Runs (24) and Earned Runs(139) in 1929.

Wilson Benge (1875–1955), was an English artist who frequently performed in American films.

Benge, was a nickname of Ben Edwards, a British singer and director established in London, England.

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

Notes: None. Blazon: Or, three mullets azure on a canton gules a dagger in pale argent hilted of the first. Crest—An eagle displayed proper.