2000
#61,544
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 305
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.11
Very Rare Last name
Benza
An Italian surname derived from the Italian word "benza" meaning "a long pole or rod".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 380 Americans carry the last name Benza. That puts it at #64,820 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.11 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 901,985 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Benza surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
380
1 in 901,985
Census rank
#64,820
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
331
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 331 bearers of the surname Benza in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.11 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 64820th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Benza, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (13.9%) and Two or More Races (3.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Benza
The surname BENZA is believed to have originated in the Italian region of Tuscany, specifically in the city of Florence, during the late 14th century. It is thought to be derived from the Italian word "benza," which means "benzoin," a type of aromatic resin used in perfumes and incense. This suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals involved in the production or trade of these fragrant materials.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name BENZA can be traced back to a document from the year 1397, which mentions a certain Guido Benza, a merchant from Florence. This document provides evidence of the name's existence and its connection to the city's thriving commerce during the Renaissance period.
In the 15th century, the name BENZA appeared in several Florentine records, including a registry of guild members from the year 1459, which listed a Lorenzo Benza as a member of the wool traders' guild. This indicates that the name was associated with various trades and professions within the city's prosperous mercantile economy.
During the 16th century, the BENZA surname gained further recognition through the works of renowned Italian artists and scholars. One notable figure was Giacomo Benza, a painter and architect from Florence who lived between 1525 and 1598. His artistic contributions, including several frescoes and architectural designs, can still be found in various churches and buildings throughout the city.
Another prominent individual bearing the BENZA surname was Antonio Benza, a philosopher and theologian who lived from 1570 to 1642. He was known for his scholarly writings on metaphysics and theology, which were widely read and discussed during his lifetime.
In the 17th century, the BENZA name found its way into the annals of Italian literature through the works of Girolamo Benza, a poet and playwright born in Florence in 1610. His plays and sonnets, inspired by the cultural and social dynamics of his time, gained him recognition among the literary circles of the era.
As the centuries passed, the BENZA surname continued to be associated with various professions and fields, from academia to the arts and commerce. While the name's origins can be traced back to Florence and the Tuscan region, it gradually spread to other parts of Italy and beyond, carried by individuals seeking new opportunities and paths.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Benza
Among Census respondents with the surname Benza, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (13.9%) and Two or More Races (3.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Benza bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Benza surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White80.4% · 266
- Hispanic or Latino13.9% · 46
- Two or more races3.0% · 10
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.5% · 5
- Black or African American0.6% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.6% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Benza
Benza appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#72,105
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 270
-35 bearers (-11.5%)
Per 100,000 0.09
Rank movement Down 10,561 places
2020
#64,820
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 331
+61 bearers (+22.6%)
Per 100,000 0.11
Rank movement Up 7,285 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #61,544 | 305 | 0.11 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #72,105 | 270 | 0.09 | -35 bearers (-11.5%) | Down 10,561 places |
| 2020 | #64,820 | 331 | 0.11 | +61 bearers (+22.6%) | Up 7,285 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Benza surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #72,105 | #64,820 | 10.1% |
| Count | 270 | 331 | 22.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.09 | 0.11 | 23.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Benza bearers went from 270 to 331 (+22.6% change). The surname moved up 7,285 positions in the national ranking, going from #72,105 to #64,820.
FAQ
Benza surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Benza?
Name Census estimates that about 380 living Americans carry the surname Benza. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 901,985 residents.
How common is Benza?
Benza ranks #64,820 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.11 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 331 people with the surname Benza. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (380), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.11 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.11 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Benza.
Has Benza become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Benza went from 270 recorded bearers to 331. That is an increase of 61 (+22.6%). In the national ranking it rose from #72,105 to #64,820.
What does the Census say about the background of Benza?
Among Census respondents with the surname Benza, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (13.9%) and Two or More Races (3.0%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Benza in the 2020 Census, accounting for 80.4% (266 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Benza appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (80.4%), Hispanic (13.9%), Two or More Races (3.0%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Benza (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Benza mean?
An Italian surname derived from the Italian word "benza" meaning "a long pole or rod". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Benza (0.11 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Benza?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.