• Home
•  | 
• Login/Register
•  | 
• Help

Lorraine Bennett (maiden name) Bennetts blessed with goodie, goodie origin.
(source: laminated paper clipping obitsuary)

Singer Tony Bennett carries a surname derived from the latin Benedictus, Bennett. A common personal name from the 12th century, evolved to become a common surname up thru-out the 20th century. The name Bennett is said to derive from the old french name Benoit and Berneit, which is france is now Benne. There is also a Germanic Bennett family whereby the name is traced to the ancient personal name of Bernhardt. The word deriviation is from latin benedictus meaining "blessed or a good person". Early English records indicate that the Bennetts were an ancient family in the Pye house, Country Wiltshire, of which a pedigree of 13 descendants is recorderd in the college of arms.

One was the secretary of Prince Rupert. The name came into general use during the reign of Edward the II. A Robertus Benite in the York Subsidy rolls a tax assessment dated 1301. There were many early amercan settlers "blessed" with the name of Bennet, James Bennett arived in Concord Mass, as a freeman in 1639. Richard Benett settled in Virginia in 1626 and became govenor of the state in 1652.

During the 1800s, Sir William Stendalle Bennett was a famous English pianist composer and intimate friend of Mendelssohn, In this country, James Gorrdon Bennett born in Scottland founded the New york Herald. His son was resposible for Stanleys trek to Africa in search of Lingston.

There are many heraldic grants to the English Bennetts but very few to the family who claim orgin from Germany. The illustrated coat of arms was granted in England and shows a divided shield of silver and gold upon which a red eagle is displayed.

(source: family lore)
Lorraine Bennett (maiden name) is decended from the German line.

You must be logged in to post a comment regarding this story.