Benedict is a

patronymic surname A patronymic surname is a surname originated from the given name of the father or a patrilineal ancestor. Different cultures have different ways of producing patronymic surnames. For example, early patronymic Welsh surnames were the result of t ...

, referring to the given name Benedict, which comes from the Latin word meaning "blessed". The name was popularized by Saint

Benedict of Nursia Benedict of Nursia ( la, Benedictus Nursiae; it, Benedetto da Norcia; 2 March AD 480 – 21 March AD 548) was an Christianity in Italy, Italian Christian monk, writer, and theologian who is venerated in the Catholic Church, the Eastern Ortho ...

, the founder of the

Order of Saint Benedict The Benedictines, officially the Order of Saint Benedict ( la, Ordo Sancti Benedicti, abbreviated as OSB), are a monastic religious order of the Catholic Church following the Rule of Saint Benedict. They are also sometimes called the Black Monk ...

and thereby of Western

Monasticism Monasticism (from Ancient Greek , , from , , 'alone'), also referred to as monachism, or monkhood, is a religious way of life in which one renounces worldly pursuits to devote oneself fully to spiritual work. Monastic life plays an important rol ...

(

Benedictine , image = Medalla San Benito.PNG , caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal , abbreviation = OSB , formation = , motto = (English: 'Pray and Work') , foun ...

People with the surname Benedict

* Bertram Benedict (c. 1892–1978), American author and editor *

Brooks Benedict Brooks Benedict (born Harold J. Mann, February 6, 1896 – January 1, 1968) was an American actor of the silent and sound film eras, when he played supporting and utility roles in over 300 films, mostly uncredited. Life He was born to Alice Jul ...

(1896–1968), American actor of the silent and sound film era * Bruce Benedict (born 1955), American former professional baseball player, coach and scout * Burton Benedict (1923-2010), American anthropologist * Charles Benedict (disambiguation), multiple people *

Cleve Benedict Cleveland Keith Benedict (born March 21, 1935) is an American politician. A member of the Republican Party, he served one term in the United States House of Representatives for West Virginia's 2nd congressional district from 1981 to 1983. Lif ...

(born 1935), U.S. Representative from West Virginia 2nd District, 1981–1983 *

Clare Benedict Clare Benedict (1870–1961) was an American writer and patron. Biography Clare Benedict was born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, in 1870. She was a distant relative of James Fenimore Cooper (her great-grandmother was his sister). She was wealthy and n ...

(1870–1961), American author * Clint Benedict (1892–1976), Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender *

Dirk Benedict Dirk Benedict (born Dirk Niewoehner; March 1, 1945) is an American film, television and stage actor, philosopher and author. He is best known for playing the characters Lieutenant Starbuck in the original '' Battlestar Galactica'' film and tele ...

(pseudonym, born 1945), American actor *

Ed Benedict Ed Benedict (August 23, 1912 – August 28, 2006) was an American animator and layout artist. He is best known for his work with Hanna-Barbera Productions, where he helped design Fred Flintstone, Yogi Bear, and Reddy on Ruff and Reddy. Career Be ...

(1912–2006), American animator and layout artist *

Emma Lee Benedict Emma Lee Benedict (, Benedict; after marriage, Transeau; pen names, E. L. Benedict and E. L. B. Transeau; November 16, 1857 – February 3, 1937) was an American magazine editor, educator, and the author of several books of prose and poetry betwe ...

(1857-1937), American editor, educator, author * Erastus C. Benedict (1800–1880), New York politician * George G. Benedict (1826–1907), Vermont newspaper editor and Medal of Honor recipient * Hester A. Benedict (1838-1921), American poet and writer *

Heath Benedict Heath Benedict (June 30, 1983 – March 23, 2008) was a Dutch American football player. An offensive tackle, Benedict was considered to be one of the top offensive linemen prospects for the 2008 NFL Draft. However, he died before the draft to ...

(1983–2008), American football player *

Jacques Benedict Jules Jacques Benois Benedict (April 22, 1879 – January 16, 1948) was one of the most prominent architects in Colorado history, whose works include a number of well-known landmarks and buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Plac ...

(1879–1948), American architect *

Jim Benedict James Scott Benedict (born February 1, 1961) is an American professional baseball pitcher, coach, scout, and front office executive. He works for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has also worked in MLB for the Texas Rangers, Mo ...

(born 1961), American baseball executive *

John Benedict John Benedict (February 6, 1649 – November 11, 1729) was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from Norwalk, Connecticut Colony in the sessions of May 1722 and May 1725. He was born in 1649, in Southold, Long Island which w ...

(1649–1729), member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from Norwalk *Sir

Julius Benedict Sir Julius Benedict (27 November 1804 – 5 June 1885) was a German-born composer and conductor, resident in England for most of his career. Life and music Benedict was born in Stuttgart, the son of a Jewish banker, and in 1820 learnt compos ...

(1804–1885), English composer and conductor *

Moby Benedict Milbry Eugene "Moby" Benedict (born March 29, 1935) was a former baseball shortstop and University of Michigan coach. A native of Detroit, Michigan, Benedict played baseball and basketball at Detroit's Southeastern High School before attending ...

(born 1935), American baseball player and coach * Paul Benedict (1938–2008), American actor * Paul K. Benedict (1912–1997), American psychiatrist and linguist *

Pinckney Benedict Pinckney Benedict (born 1964) is an American short-story writer and novelist whose work often reflects his Appalachian background. Biography Benedict was raised in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, where his family had a dairy farm. He attended Th ...

(born 1964), Writer of Appalachian fiction * Richard Benedict (1920–1984), Italian-born television and film actor and director *

Rob Benedict Robert Patrick Benedict (born September 21, 1970) is an American stage, film and television actor and writer. His 25 year career includes more than 70 television and movie credits. He is best known for his work on the television series '' Sup ...

(born 1970), American stage and screen actor *

Ruth Benedict Ruth Fulton Benedict (June 5, 1887 – September 17, 1948) was an American anthropologist and folklorist. She was born in New York City, attended Vassar College, and graduated in 1909. After studying anthropology at the New School of Social Re ...

(1887–1948), American anthropologist * Ruth Sarles Benedict (1906–1996), American anti-war activist, researcher and journalist * Stanley Rossiter Benedict (1884–1936), American chemist who invented Benedict's reagent, a test for reducing sugars *

Thomas Benedict Thomas Benedict, Sr. (1617 – February 28, 1689) was an early settler in colonial New York, and Connecticut Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Isla ...

(1617–1689), early settler in colonial New York, and Connecticut; member of the General Court of the Colony of Connecticut from Norwalk (1670, 1675) * Thomas Benedict (II) (1682–1763), member of the Connecticut House of Representatives of the Colony of Connecticut from Norwalk (1737, 1740, and 1744) *

William Benedict William Benedict (April 16, 1917 – November 25, 1999), was an American actor, perhaps best known for playing "Whitey" in Monogram Pictures' The Bowery Boys series. Early years Benedict was born in Haskell, Oklahoma, After his father's dea ...

(1917–1999), actor

Fictional characters

*Eggs Benedict, a character in the '' Five Nights at Freddy's'' video game series *Julius and Vincent Benedict, characters in ''

Twins Twins are two offspring produced by the same pregnancy.MedicineNet > Definition of TwinLast Editorial Review: 19 June 2000 Twins can be either ''monozygotic'' ('identical'), meaning that they develop from one zygote, which splits and forms two em ...

'' *Phillium Benedict, villain of '' Recess: School's Out'' *Terry Benedict, character in ''

Ocean's Eleven ''Ocean's Eleven'' is a 2001 American heist comedy film directed by Steven Soderbergh from a screenplay by Ted Griffin. The first installment in the ''Ocean's'' film trilogy, it is a remake of the 1960 Rat Pack film of the same name. The ...

'' *Nicholas Benedict, character in

The Mysterious Benedict Society ''The Mysterious Benedict Society'' is a quartet of children's books by Trenton Lee Stewart chronicling the adventures of four children, initially gathered together by the eccentric Mr. Benedict. The first children's novels written by Stewart, ...

{{surname, Benedict English-language surnames Surnames from given names