Benson surname meaning

Benson is a patronymic surname meaning “son of Ben.” Ben could be a familiar form of Benjamin, Benedict, or another personal name, so the surname does not identify one universal biblical or medieval ancestor. The -son ending records descent in the English naming pattern, and related forms such as Bennison and older spellings show how records varied. Scandinavian Benson lines can also reflect local patronymic practice. Parent’s name is the high-confidence catalog type because the relationship formula is clear. Genealogical records are still needed to determine which Ben supplied a particular Benson family.