Explore the Family Name Bena
The meaning of Bena
1. Italian (Piedmont): from a shortened form of the medieval personal name Benenato (see Benenati). 2. Czech (Béňa); Slovak and Rusyn (from Slovakia) (Beňa): from the personal name Beňa, which is a Czech and Slovak pet form of Benedikt or Beňadik (see Benedict) and also a Slovakized form of the Rusyn cognate Benya (ultimately from Rusyn Venedykt). Compare Benya. 3. Hungarian (Béna): nickname from béna ‘lame’, or from a pet form of Benedek, Hungarian form of Benedict.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Bena in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Bena saw a slight decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. Ranked 36,276th in 2000, it fell to 38,850th place in 2010 marking a 7.1% decrease. In terms of count, there was a marginal drop from 583 to 568 people bearing this surname during the same period, representing a 2.57% decrease. The proportion per 100,000 people also declined from 0.22 to 0.19, indicating a 13.64% drop.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #36,276 | #38,850 | -7.1% |
| Count | 583 | 568 | -2.57% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.22 | 0.19 | -13.64% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Bena
When considering ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows interesting shifts for the surname Bena. In 2010, those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and bearing the surname appeared in the census for the first time, making up 1.41% of individuals with this surname. The count of those identifying as two or more races decreased by 48.54%, from 2.06% to 1.06%. Those identifying as White still represented the majority, but their percentage dropped from 78.04% in 2000 to 69.37% in 2010, a decrease of 11.11%. On the other hand, the Hispanic representation within the Bena surname increased significantly by 70.31%, from 15.09% in 2000 to 25.70% in 2010. The number of Black individuals with the surname Bena slightly increased by 2.50% from 2.40% to 2.46%. Meanwhile, there was no change in the American Indian and Alaskan Native category, remaining at 0% in both years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 78.04% | 69.37% | -11.11% |
| Hispanic | 15.09% | 25.7% | 70.31% |
| Black | 2.4% | 2.46% | 2.5% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 1.41% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 2.06% | 1.06% | -48.54% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |