The Benton Family History

What Does the Benton Surname Mean? Historical Origins Explained

The surname Benton is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word ‘beonet,’ which signifies a location characterized by the presence of bent or bear grass. Variants of the name include Bentown and Bentoun. The Benton lineage is believed to have commenced in Northumberland, England, and subsequently expanded into several counties, including Yorkshire, Lancashire, Staffordshire, Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, as well as the metropolitan area of London. In Scotland, the Benton name is predominantly found in the counties of Aberdeenshire, Lanarkshire, and Inverness-shire. In the United States, the Benton surname traces its roots to states such as New York, North Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Pennsylvania, Virginia, South Carolina, and Louisiana. Notable individuals bearing this surname include Barbi Benton, a model and actress; Stanley ‘Rabbit’ Benton, a professional baseball player; Thomas Hart Benton, an esteemed artist; Walter Benton, a poet; Jim Benton, a professional football player; Jerome Benton, a musician; Robert Benton, a film director; Mark Benton, a comic actor from England; and Nicolas F. Benton, a journalist and founder of the Falls Church News-Press in Virginia.