Explore the Family Name Bence
The meaning of Bence
1. English (of Norman origin): from a medieval personal name Bence, Benz, from the Old French Bence (see 2 below). 2. French: derivative of the ancient Germanic personal name Benzo, itself perhaps of the same origin as German Benz or, alternatively, derived from the name Bandizo, based on the Gothic element bandi meaning ‘strap’ or ‘link, tie’. 3. Americanized form of German Benz. 4. Hungarian: from a short form of the old personal name Bencenc, from Latin Vincentius. From the 16th century onward, Bence was confused with Bencse, a pet form of Benedek (see Benedict), and various derivatives of the personal name Benjámin (see Benjamin). See also 5 and 6 below. 5. Slovak: from a pet form of the personal name Benedik (see Benedict). Alternatively, of Hungarian origin (see 4 above, compare 6 below). 6. Slovenian and Croatian: from the Hungarian personal name Bence (see 4 above).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Bence in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Bence has seen a slight decrease between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Bence was ranked as the 17,799th most popular surname in the United States with around 1,450 individuals bearing it. By 2010, its rank had dropped to 18,867, indicating a 6% drop in its ranking. The actual count of people with this surname remained almost consistent, only recording a marginal decrease of 0.07%. The proportion of individuals with the Bence surname per 100,000 also dropped by 9.26%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #17,799 | #18,867 | -6% |
| Count | 1,450 | 1,449 | -0.07% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.54 | 0.49 | -9.26% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Bence
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Bence has shown some fluctuation between 2000 and 2010, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. While those identifying as White made up the largest percentage at 93.66% in 2000 and 91.10% in 2010, there was a small decrease of 2.73% over the decade. Meanwhile, those identifying as Hispanic saw an increase from 2.21% in 2000 to 4.00% in 2010, marking an increase of 81%. The Asian/Pacific Islander community also saw a significant increase from 0.62% to 1.04%, a 67.74% rise. Those identifying with two or more races and American Indian and Alaskan Native categories also experienced increases, while the Black community saw a slight decrease.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 93.66% | 91.1% | -2.73% |
| Hispanic | 2.21% | 4% | 81% |
| Two or More Races | 1.86% | 2.21% | 18.82% |
| Black | 1.24% | 1.17% | -5.65% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.62% | 1.04% | 67.74% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.41% | 0.48% | 17.07% |