Benson

Benson is another example of a last name turned given name. Benson originated as an Anglo-Saxon patronymic surname meaning “son of Benne” with Benne being a medieval short form of Benedictus. Benedictus is a Late Latin masculine name that means “blessed” so you could say that Benson means “son of the blessed one”. Benedictus became popularized in England in the later Middle Ages although its success in Europe predates this. The personal name Benedict owed much of its popularity to St. Benedict (c. 480-545) who founded the Benedictine order of monks in Italy and established The Rule of Saint Benedict (a model for all subsequent monasteries). Thanks to the renown of St. Benedict there have been 16 popes who have taken his name through the ages. Aside from Benson meaning “son of Benedict”, the surname may have also developed from a place name in England (Benson, Oxfordshire) formerly known by its Olde English name Bænesingtun meaning “Benesa’s settlement” with the personal name Benesa being of obscure origin but thought to be derivative of “Bana” meaning “slayer”. The first recorded spelling of this surname came in the form of Benneson in the early 14th century.