Dictionary of Medieval Names
from European Sources

Benedict m. Latin benedictus 'blessed'.

The name of a 6th C saint who founded the Benedictine Order, a 7th C Anglo-Saxon saint, an 8th C Italian saint, a 9th C Carolingian saint, an 11th C Hungarian saint, a 12th C French saint, twelve medieval popes, one of whom was also a saint, and four anti-popes.

The English diminutive Ben and the vernacular form Benet are witnessed in 1379 in the relational bynames Bensoñ (WRYPT1 p. 320) and Benetdogter (WRYPT1 p. 297).

Austria
Latin
776 Benedictus (nom) FRA-XXXL 4
Early New High German
1439 Benedict (nom) ChronSH p. 32
Croatia
Croatian
1597 Benedic Susedgrad1597 p. 30, Benedictus ibid. p. 30, Benedik ibid. p. 30, Benedyk ibid. p. 30
1597 Bede Susedgrad1597 p. 30, Bedek ibid. p. 30, Bencek ibid. p. 30, Benko ibid. p. 30
Czech Republic
Latin
1291 Benessius (nom) RTT-1.1 III; 1297 Benessius (nom) ibid. VI; 1315 Benessio (dat) ibid. VIII; 1316 Beneda (nom) ibid. X; 1345 Beneschius (nom) CDEM-7.2 629, Benessio (dat) ibid. 612; 1346 Beneschium (acc) ibid. 633, Beneschius (nom) ibid. 633, Benessius (nom) ibid. 633; 1348 Benessio (dat) chlumecky 2; 1349 Benessio (dat) ibid. 20, Benessius (nom) ibid. 61; 1350 Benessio (dat) ibid. 167, Benessius (nom) ibid. 202; 1351 Benedicto (abl) ibid. 2, Beness (nom) ibid. 28, Benessio (abl) ibid. 1, Benessius (nom) ibid. 32; 1353 Beness (nom) ibid. 100, Benessio (abl) ibid. 60; 1355 Beneschij (gen) ibid. 74, Beneschium (acc) ibid. 74, Beneschyo (dat) ibid. 74; 1356 Benedicti (gen) ibid. 176, p. 29, Benesschius (nom) ibid. 135, Benessio (dat) ibid. 172, Benessius (nom) ibid. 135; 1358 Beneschij (gen) ibid. 224, p. 31, Beneschio (dat) ibid. 350, p. 35, Beneschius (nom) ibid. 256, p. 32; 1360 Beneschius (nom) ibid. 466, p. 40; 1372 Benesius (nom) LDFPUP1 p. 28
Denmark
Latin
1362 Benedictus (nom) MIRGPCM4 XVI-V
Danish
1581 Benedicts KD-1 no. 362
1581 Benndtz KD-1 no. 362
Old Swedish
1419 Beynts (gen) SDHK no. 19326
England
Latin
1185x1186 Benedicti (gen) PR-XXXVI p. 16, Benedictus (nom) ibid. p. 192; 1298 Benedictus (nom) ComWil-vol1 p. 2; 1340xc1450 Benedictus (nom) CovGuild-1 p. 6; 1381 Benedictum (acc) Suffolk1381 p. 79, Benedictus (nom) ibid. p. 76; 1431 Benedictus (nom) EEW p. 89
Dutch
1591 Benedictus AuFr Brant; 1593 Benedictus ibid. Brant
Middle English
1431 Benet EEW p. 88
Early Modern English
1530 Bennyt LIWill-III p. 61; 1539 Bennet StAnthonlin p. 1; 1540 Bennet ibid. p. 2; 1566 Benet COmar-vol5 p. 3; 1567 Benatt ibid. p. 84; 1575 Bennet BUmar-vol1 p. 25; 1577 Benat COmar-vol5 p. 84; 1580 Bennett COmar-vol2 p. 122; 1581 Bennett ibid. p. 122, Benntt ibid. p. 122; 1582 Bennett ibid. p. 123; 1583 Benedict RegBath p. 5; 1583/4 Benet SurMus p. 119, Bennat ibid. p. 55, Bennatt ibid. p. 56; 1583 Bennett ibid. p. 181; 1584 Bennett ibid. p. 193; 1587 Benat COmar-vol5 p. 86; 1587/8 Benedict RegBath p. 8; 1587 Benet COmar-vol5 p. 8; 1588 Benett ibid. p. 8; 1589 Benet DEmar-vol2 p. 19, Benett COmar-vol5 p. 9; 1591 Benett ibid. p. 9; 1593 Benatt ibid. p. 128, Bennet DEmar-vol1 p. 86; 1595 Bennett COmar-vol2 p. 123; 1599 Bennet DEmar-vol2 p. 42
Walloon
1591 Benoist RWC p. 19; 1594 Benoist ibid. p. 32
Estonia
Middle Low German
1434 Benedictus BbRT p. 356
1592 Bendt Tiik1977 p. 286, Pent ibid. p. 286, Pentz ibid. p. 285
Early Modern Swedish
1564 Bencht (nom) Hiiumaa p. 102; 1565 Bengtt (nom) ibid. p. 102; 1576 Benth (nom) ibid. p. 49; 1577 Benth (nom) ibid. p. 120; 1583 Bent (nom) ibid. p. 120; 1589 Bengt (nom) ibid. p. 126; 1595 Bengt (nom) ibid. p. 120
Finland
Early Modern Swedish
1548 Bencts (gen) Audén1980 p. 168
France
Latin
c550 Benedicti (gen) DCEL-2 Add. I; c823 Benedictus (nom) irminon-vol2 94, Ved; 11thC Benedictus (nom) StVdM-II 710; 1047x1061 Benedictus (nom) CartNDSaintes XV; 1060 Benedicti (gen) ibid. XIX; 1067x1074 Benedictus (nom) ibid. XIII; 1070 Benedictus (nom) LDS appendix, XXIX; 1123 Benedictus (nom) CartYonne1 CXXXV; 1135 Benedicti (gen) CartNDdOurscamp LXXVIII; 1157x1184 Benedictus (nom) ChartCaen2 2; 1179 Benedicto (abl) clairvaux-12thc 176; 1180 Benedicti (gen) RotScaNor p. 3; 1240 Benedictum (acc) HAP p. 372, Benedictus (nom) ibid. p. 380; 1241 Benedictus (nom) NDParisII 2-CXII; 1249 Benedictus (nom) ibid. 2-CIX; 1301 Benedictus (nom) MemPic-vol17 p. 260; 1378 Benedicti (gen) hanquetvol1 1815
Old French
1290 Benoist (obl) HistHdVParis p. 106; 1296 Benoist paris1296 p. 32; 1298 Benoest (obl) HistHdVParis p. 138; 1301 Benois (nom) MemPic-vol17 p. 233; 1303 Benoit (nom) ArchCambIII p. 152; 1313 Benoist Paris1313 p. 94, Benoit ibid. p. 135; 1337 Benedic (obl) ChronMaillezais p. 166
Middle French
1418 Benoist DdB1418 p. 203, HGParis p. 378; 1421 Benoit favier 1201; 1561 Benoist RegPCC-1 p. 5; 1564 Benest ibid. p. 75, Benoist ibid. p. 45; 1565 Benest ibid. p. 117, Benoist ibid. p. 131; 1566 Benest ibid. p. 247; 1567 Benest ibid. p. 333, Benoist ibid. p. 308; 1568 Benest ibid. p. 415; 1571 Benest ibid. p. 447; 1572 Benest ibid. p. 518, Benoist ibid. p. 507
1354 Benoitet MHN DLX
Germany
Latin
814 Benedictus (nom) quix-vol1 86; 946 Benedicti (gen) HambUrk-vol1 XXXIV; 1174 Benedicti (gen) UrkMeck1 no. III; 1394 Benedicti (gen) SMM p. 202, Benedictus (nom) ibid. p. 178
Early New High German
1497 Benedick Nurn1497 754
Hungary
Latin
1301 Benedicti (gen) Slíz p. 51, s.n. Benedictus, Benedictj (gen) ibid. p. 51, s.n. Benedictus; 1302 Benedicto (abl) ibid. p. 51, s.n. Benedictus, Benedictus (nom) ibid. p. 51, s.n. Benedictus; 1304 Benedicto (abl) ibid. p. 51, s.n. Benedictus; 1307 Benedicti (gen) ibid. p. 51, s.n. Benedictus; 1308 Benedictus (nom) ibid. p. 51, s.n. Benedictus; 1310 Benedicti (gen) ibid. p. 51, s.n. Benedictus; 1311 Benedictus (nom) ibid. p. 51, s.n. Benedictus; 1312 Benedictum (acc) ibid. p. 51, s.n. Benedictus; 1313 Benedictus (nom) ibid. p. 51, s.n. Benedictus; 1314 Benedictus (nom) ibid. p. 52, s.n. Benedictus; 1315 Benedictus (nom) ibid. p. 52, s.n. Benedictus; 1316 Benedicti (gen) ibid. p. 52, s.n. Benedictus; 1317 Benedicti (gen) CDH-VIII-II XV, Benedicto (abl) ibid. XV; 1318 Benedictum (acc) Slíz p. 52, s.n. Benedictus, Benedictus (nom) ibid. p. 52, s.n. Benedictus; 1321 Benedictum (acc) ibid. p. 52, s.n. Benedictus; 1322 Benedicti (gen) ibid. p. 52, s.n. Benedictus; 1323 Benedictus (nom) ibid. p. 52, s.n. Benedictus; 1324 Benedicti (gen) ibid. p. 52, s.n. Benedictus; 1325 Benedictus (nom) ibid. p. 52, s.n. Benedictus; 1326 Benedictus (nom) ibid. p. 52, s.n. Benedictus; 1327 Benedicti (gen) ibid. p. 52, s.n. Benedictus; 1328 Benedictum (acc) ibid. p. 53, s.n. Benedictus; 1329 Benedicti (gen) ibid. p. 53, s.n. Benedictus; 1330 Benedicto (abl) ibid. p. 53, s.n. Benedictus; 1331 Benedictus (nom) ibid. p. 53, s.n. Benedictus; 1332 Benedictus (nom) ibid. p. 53, s.n. Benedictus; 1332x1337 Benedictus (nom) ibid. p. 53, s.n. Benedictus; 1333 Benedicti (gen) ibid. p. 57, s.n. Benedictus; 1334 Benedicti (gen) ibid. p. 57, s.n. Benedictus; 1335 Benedictus (nom) ibid. p. 57, s.n. Benedictus; 1336 Benedicti (gen) ibid. p. 57, s.n. Benedictus; 1337 Benedictus (nom) ibid. p. 58, s.n. Benedictus; 1338 Benedictus (nom) ibid. p. 58, s.n. Benedictus; 1339 Benedicti (gen) ibid. p. 58, s.n. Benedictus; 1340 Benedicti (gen) ibid. p. 58, s.n. Benedictus; 1341 Benedicti (gen) ibid. p. 58, s.n. Benedictus; 1342 Benedicti (gen) ibid. p. 58, s.n. Benedictus
1302 Bene (nom) Slíz p. 59, s.n. Benedictus; 1310 Bench (nom) ibid. p. 58, s.n. Benedictus; 1311 Bench (nom) ibid. p. 58, s.n. Benedictus, Benke (nom) ibid. p. 59, s.n. Benedictus; 1312 Benke (nom) ibid. p. 59, s.n. Benedictus; 1313 Benke (nom) ibid. p. 59, s.n. Benedictus; 1318 Bench (nom) ibid. p. 58, s.n. Benedictus, Benke (nom) ibid. p. 59, s.n. Benedictus; 1323 Benche (nom) ibid. p. 58, s.n. Benedictus, Bensee (gen) ibid. p. 59, s.n. Benedictus; 1325 Benke (nom) ibid. p. 59, s.n. Benedictus; 1328 Bend (nom) ibid. p. 59, s.n. Benedictus; 1329 Benche (nom) ibid. p. 58, s.n. Benedictus, Benk (nom) ibid. p. 59, s.n. Benedictus; 1330 Benche (nom) ibid. p. 58, s.n. Benedictus; 1331 Bench (nom) ibid. p. 58, s.n. Benedictus, Benkez (nom) ibid. p. 59, s.n. Benedictus, Bense (nom) ibid. p. 59, s.n. Benedictus; 1332 Bene (nom) ibid. p. 59, s.n. Benedictus; 1332x1337 Bench (nom) ibid. p. 58, s.n. Benedictus, Bene (nom) ibid. p. 59, s.n. Benedictus; 1335 Benche (nom) ibid. p. 58, s.n. Benedictus; 1337 Benche (nom) ibid. p. 58, s.n. Benedictus; 1339 Bende (nom) ibid. p. 59, s.n. Benedictus; 1340 Bensa (nom) ibid. p. 59, s.n. Benedictus, Bense (nom) ibid. p. 59, s.n. Benedictus; 1341 Benke (nom) ibid. p. 59, s.n. Benedictus
Ireland
Latin
fin12thC Benedictus (nom) MunDocIr III, p. 16
Italy
Latin
973 Benedictus (nom) UrkStyria 26; 1164 Benedicto (abl) SDE3 I; 1236 Benedicto (abl) TirNot1 9; 1265x1339 Beneditti (gen) BBC-Berg 1479, Benetti (gen) ibid. 200; 1326 Benedictus (nom) Friuli-14thC no. 428; 1348 Benedicti (gen) INP 15, Benedicto (abl) ibid. 15, Benedictus (nom) ibid. 15; 1366 Benedictus (nom) Livi 112; 1369 Benedito (abl) ibid. 241; 1370 Benedicto (abl) ibid. 259; 1376 Benedicto (abl) DouGen1 p. 23; 1387 Benedicti (gen) Venditti II-17; 1449 Benedicti (gen) VitAs2 V, Benedicto (abl) ibid. X; 1464 Benedictus (nom) CUP-III-I CCXXXI; 1478 Benedicti (gen) RCCaetani6 2720; 1522x1532 Benedictus (nom) DSF p. 52, 37; 1527 Benedicti (gen) Rome1527 p. 83, Benedictus (nom) ibid. p. 83
1285 Benedictoli (gen) Perugia1285 p. 154
Italian
1513x1521 Benedetto LeoX p. 17
Lithuania
Polish
1564x1569 Banis (nom) Kaunas2006 p. 86
Poland
Latin
1248 Benedicto (abl) UrkMeck1 no. XXXVII; 1455 Byenyassio (abl) CDP2-2 CCCCVII
Scotland
Latin
1413 Benedicti (gen) REG-II 323
Spain
Latin
1488 Benedicti (gen) carbonell-I p. 23; 1490 Benedicti (gen) ibid. p. 40; 1491 Benedicti (gen) ibid. p. 59, Benedictus (nom) ibid. p. 56, Benet (nom) ibid. p. 58; 1492 Benedicti (gen) ibid. p. 67, Benedictus (nom) ibid. p. 66
Catalan
1510 Benedito valencia1510 3256, Benet ibid. 3740
Sweden
Latin
1315 bendicts (gen) SDHK 2688; 1350 Benedicti (gen) ibid. no. 6055, Benedicto (dat) ibid. no. 6023, Benedictus (nom) ibid. no. 6002, Bændiks (gen) ibid. no. 6042; 1352 Benedictus (nom) ibid. no. 6486, Bændicz (gen) ibid. no. 6486; 1358 Benedicti (gen) ibid. 7427; 1420 Benedicti (gen) ibid. no. 19553
Old Swedish
1383 Bendictz (gen) SRA-vol2 no. 1906, Benedictzs ibid. no. 1948; 1403 Beincter (nom) SDHK no. 16006; 1409 Benkter (nom) ibid. no. 17350, Benktir (nom) ibid. no. 17350; 1411 Bæyents (gen) ibid. no. 17714; 1413 Benedikth (nom) ibid. no. 18026
1379 Bænkt (gen) SDHK no. 11542; 1383 Beinctz (gen) SRA-vol2 no. 1930, Beincz (gen) ibid. no. 1928, Beintz (gen) ibid. no. 1902, Benc (gen) ibid. no. 1932, Beynt ibid. no. 1902, Bæint ibid. no. 1926, Bændix (gen) ibid. no. 1911; 1402 Bentz (gen) SDHK no. 15897; 1406 Bengtz (gen) ibid. no. 16646; 1407 Beinctz (gen) ibid. no. 16880, Bæinct (nom) ibid. no. 16943; 1409 Bencht (nom) ibid. no. 17269, Bencts (gen) ibid. no. 17263, Bæindz (nom) ibid. no. 17337, Bænct (gen) ibid. no. 17265, Bæncts (gen) ibid. no. 17226, Bænkts (gen) ibid. no. 17163, Bænt (nom) ibid. no. 17341; 1410 Bænktz (gen) ibid. no. 17505; 1411 Beincth (nom) ibid. no. 17735, Bencht (nom) ibid. no. 17663, Bænkt (nom) ibid. no. 17737; 1412 Bength (nom) ibid. no. 17923; 1413 Benkt (nom) ibid. no. 18131; 1418 Bænktz (gen) ibid. no. 19090; 1419 Bencter (nom) ibid. no. 19273, Bencth (nom) ibid. no. 19234, Bænkt (nom) ibid. no. 19388; 1420 Bænkt (nom) ibid. no. 19436; 1492 Benct (nom) HGS p. 150; 1493 Bencth (nom) ibid. p. 150; 1494 Benckt (nom) ibid. p. 150
Early Modern Swedish
1535 Bencts (gen) HGS p. 156; 1536 Benct (gen) ibid. p. 157; 1537 Bencts (gen) ibid. p. 157; 1540 Benct (gen) ibid. p. 158
Switzerland
Latin
1195 Benedicto (abl) CartChart 2; 1497/8 Benedicti (gen) MHCG2 263; 1522 Benedictus (nom) ibid. 293; 1527 Benedicto (dat) ibid. 296
Middle French
1550 Benoys MHCG2 321; 1552 Benois ibid. 323
Wales
Latin
1497 Benet (nom) ArchCambIII p. 68
Cite as: A. Brown, G. Grim, R. Le Get, M. Slíz, J. Uckelman, S.L. Uckelman. "Benedict". In S.L. Uckelman, ed. The Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, Edition 2023, no. 1. http://dmnes.org/2023/1/name/Benedict.