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Bennett Family History

Bennett Surname Meaning

English: from the medieval personal name Benedict from Latin Benedictus ‘blessed’. In the 12th century the Latin form of the name is found in England alongside versions derived from the Old French form Beneit Benoit which was common among the Normans. The surname has also been established in Ireland since the 14th century. German: from a short form of the personal name Bernhard . Altered form of French Benet or Bennet or Binet and possibly also of some other similar (like-sounding) French surname. Altered ending reflects the Canadian and American French practice of sounding the final -t. Compare Bennet

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Bonnet, Jennett, Kennett, Dennett, Benet, Beckett, Barnett, Basnett

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Bennett family from?

You can see how Bennett families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bennett family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Bennett families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 594 Bennett families living in New York. This was about 22% of all the recorded Bennett's in USA. New York had the highest population of Bennett families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bennett surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What did your Bennett ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Bennett. 15% of Bennett men worked as a Laborer and 7% of Bennett women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Bennett were Truck Driver and Teacher. .

View Census Data for Bennett | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    15%
  • Farmer
    14%
  • Salesman
    5%
  • Truck Driver
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    7%
  • Housekeeper
    6%
  • Maid
    6%
  • Teacher
    5%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Bennett family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2 million census records available for the last name Bennett. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bennett census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Bennett

Passenger Lists

There are 197,000 immigration records available for the last name Bennett. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Bennett immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 291,000 military records available for the last name Bennett. For the veterans among your Bennett ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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You've only scratched the surface of Bennett family history

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What is the average Bennett lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Bennett life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1941, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Bennett in 1940 was 44, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bennett

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