Explore the Family Name Benney
The meaning of Benney
English (Cornwall): from a Middle English personal name Ben(n)y, a diminutive of Ben(n), a pet form of Benet (Benedict), + the hypocoristic suffix -y. See Benn 1 and Benedict.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Benney in the United States?
According to data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Benney saw a decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. The rank of the surname slipped from 47,735 in 2000 to 54,055 in 2010, which is a drop by 13.24%. Similarly, the count of individuals with the surname decreased from 417 to 382, marking an 8.39% decline. Consequently, the proportion of individuals bearing the Benney name per 100k population also dropped from 0.15 to 0.13, indicating a 13.33% decrease.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #47,735 | #54,055 | -13.24% |
| Count | 417 | 382 | -8.39% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.15 | 0.13 | -13.33% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Benney
The ethnicity associated with the surname Benney, as provided by the Decennial U.S. Census, underwent some changes over the same decade. Although the vast majority of bearers of the Benney name identified as White (90.58% in 2010 down from 93.53% in 2000), there was a notable increase in those identifying as Black – from 3.60% in 2000 to 6.54% in 2010, which is a significant rise of 81.67%. Meanwhile, the number of Asians/Pacific Islanders under this surname dropped to zero by 2010 from 1.20% in 2000. No individuals with this surname identified as Hispanic or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 93.53% | 90.58% | -3.15% |
| Black | 3.6% | 6.54% | 81.67% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.2% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |