Origin of Benedicto

This famous surname, one of the earliest recorded in history, and recorded in over two hundred spellings from Benedicte, Benech and Bennet, to Banish, Beinosovitch and Vedyasov, derives from the Roman personal name "Benedictus", meaning blessed. The name owed its original popularity to St. Benedict (circa 480 - 550), who founded the Benedictine order of monks at Monte Cassino in Italy, and wrote the monastic rules that formed a model for all subsequent orders. The name was originally given only to members of the church, and particularly those in monastic orders.

It became popular as a personal name for all members of society only after the famous Crusades to the Holy Land in the 12th century when it became the practice for returning soldiers or pilgrims to call their children after saints or prominent members of the early church. These personal names became surnames over the next two centuries, the first surnames being recorded in England, those on the continent generally being rather later. The French variants "Beneit or Benoit" being short forms of Benedictus, were the most usual spellings. Amongst the early examples of the surname recording are those of Robert Benyt of Yorkshire, England, in 1327, and Hainrich Benedicte of St Blazien, Germany, in the year 1330. Amongst the early settlers to the New England colonies of America was Edward Bennett of Wariscovack, Virgina. He was a major landowner, and is known to have employed at least twelve servants. The first recorded spelling of the family name anywhere in the world is believed to be that of William Benet, which was dated 1208, in the rolls of the city of Durham, England. This was during the reign of King John, known as "Lackland", 1199 - 1216.

Aragonese surname, with solar houses in Ejulve, its owner Domingo Benedito; in Hinojosa del Jarque, its owners Simón Benedito and Gil Benedito; in the Mosque of Jarque, its owner Domingo Benedito; in Ababuj, its owners Pascual Benedito and another Pascual Benedito; in Valdelinares, its owner Miguel Benedito; in Sarrión, its owner Joan Benedito; in Castralvo, its owner Domingo Benedito; in Corbalán, its owner Nadal Benedito; in Escorihuela, its owners Pero Benedito and García Benedito; in Villalba Alta. its owner Joan Benedito; in Parales de Alfambra, its owner García Benedito; in Valdeconejos, its owner Anthón Benedito; in Cantavieja, its owners Mossén Vicent Benedito, Johan Benedito, Nicolau Benedito, Vicent Benedito and Gabriel Benedito; in Alcalá de la Selva, its owners Johan Benedito, Mingo Benedito, Miguel Benedito, Lorent Benedito and Pedro Benedito; in Manzanera, its owner Mossén Johan Benedito; in the city of Teruel, its owners Bartholome Benedito and Johan Benedito; in Orrios, its owners Jaime Benedito and Johan Benedito; in Cuevas de Portalrubio, its owners Domingo Benedito, Johan Benedito and Johan Benedito; in Thing, its owner Pero Benedito; in Cutanda, its owners Anthón Benedito, Ferrando Benedito, Mingo Benedito, Johan Benedito and Anthón Benedito; in Caminreal, its owner Pero Benedito; in Ojos Negros, its owner Miguel Benedito; in Lagueruela, its owner Johan Benedito; in Cucalón, its owner Pedro Benedito; in Visiedo, its owners Miguel Benedito, Johan Benedito and Luis Benedito; in Rillo (all in Teruel), its owner Joan Benedito; in the city of Jaca (Huesca), its owners Johan Benedito, and in Badules (Zaragoza), its owner Pero Benedito: in Lechón (Zaragoza), its owner Johan Benedito, documented in the Aragonese burning of 1495.

P de Benedito and P. de Benedito were residents of Daroca in 1230, and Domingo and Jordán Benedito, residents of Teruel, in 1384.

Pascual Benedito was a resident of Almazora (Castellón) in 1379. Nicolás Benedito was a resident of Picaña (Valencia) in 1379. Bernat, Bernat, Pascual and Pero Benedito were residents of Segorbe (Castellón) in 1421. Pere Benedito was a resident of Bejís (Castellón) in 1379. Domingo Benedito was a resident of Jérica (Castellón) in 1343-1369. Johan Benedito was a neighbor of Castielfabib (Valencia) in 1379.

Pedro Benedicto, major and minor, hidalgos, and Gerónimo, Francisco and Pedro Benedicto, obtained in 1606 in Aragón, in the village of Tarazona, Borja and Teruel.

Pedro Benedicto Gavarda Villaroya y Navarro, a native of Teruel, proved his purity of blood to hold the position of Familiar before the Holy Office of the Inquisition of Valencia, in 1624, and his wife Juana Pérez Navarro, a native of Tortajada (Teruel ).

Francisco Julián Benedicto y Martín, a native of Cuéllar (Segovia), priest, Rector of the Royal Mining Seminary and Mayor Chaplain of the Jesús María Convent, proved his purity of blood to exercise the position of Inspector and Notary of the Holy Office of the Inquisition of Mexico, in 1797 and 1803. He was the son of José Benedicto y Avello, a native of Valencia, and María Josefa Martín, a native of Villanueva de la Cañada (Madrid), and paternal grandson of Salvador Benedicto y Avello, a native of Valencia , and Vicenta Herrero y Mañez y Cibera, a native of Alcoblas.

Fernando Benedicto Piñeiro was a Knight of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem in 1859.

Manuel Benedicto y Piñeiro was a Knight of the Order of Carlos III since 1856.

Alfonso Benedicto Almager y Belao, a native of Valdemoro (Madrid), entered the college of the Mayor of San Ildefonso and minors of Alcalá, in 1627.

Mariana Benedicto Naval Marín y Loscos, baptized in Puebla de Híjar (Teruel) on November 9, 1807, originally from Puebla de Híjar, obtained Royal license on March 25, 1840 to marry Liborio Pastor y Albira, Ensign of Cavalry.