# Benson (surname)

Benson is a common patronymic surname of English origin meaning "son of Ben" (Benedict, Benjamin, Bennett). Benson is uncommon as a first name, but quite common as a surname in English speaking countries.
Notable people with the name Benson include:
* A. C. Benson (1862–1925), English poet and essayist
* A. V. Benson (1869–1939), South Australian medical doctor and sports enthusiast
* Ada Benson (1840–1882), British headmistress and educationist
* Adolph B. Benson (1881–1961), Swedish-American educator and historian
* Al Benson (1908–1978), American radio DJ, music promoter and record label owner
* Al Benson (basketball), American professional basketball player
* Alexander Benson (1872–1947), American diplomat
* Alfred W. Benson (1843–1916), United States Senator from Kansas
* Allan L. Benson (1871–1940), American journalist and Socialist presidential candidate
* Allen Benson (1908–1999), American professional baseball player
* Amber Benson (born 1977), American actress
* Ambrosius Benson (c. 1495/1500–1550), Italian painter, part of the Northern Renaissance
* Andrew Benson (1917–2015), American chemist
* Anna Benson (born 1976), American model
* Annette Benson (1895–1965), British film actress
* Sir Arthur Benson (1907–1987), British colonial administrator and governor
* Arthur W. Benson (c. 1798–1889), American industrialist and real-estate developer
* Ashley Benson (born 1989), American actress
* Aslag Benson (1855–1937), member of the North Dakota Senate from 1903 to 1906
* Barry W. Benson (c. 1811–1839), secretary of state of Mississippi
* Benny Benson (1913–1972), creator of Alaska's state flag
* Bernadette Benson, Canadian born athlete specialising in ultra distance events
* Bernard Benson (1922–1996), British inventor, author of The Peace Book
* Bertil W. Benson (1843–1907), Norwegian-born American politician in North Dakota
* Bill Benson (rugby league) (1893–1968), Australian rugby league player
* Bob Benson (footballer) (1883–1916), English professional footballer
* Bobby Benson (1922–1983), Nigerian entertainer and musician who influenced the Nigerian music scene
* Brad Benson (born 1955), American football player
* Brendan Benson (born 1970), American musician
* Bruce Benson (disambiguation), several people
* Bryan Benson, Governor of the Bank of England from 1735 to 1737
* Carl Benson, pseudonym of American writer Charles Astor Bristed (1820–1874)
* Carla L. Benson, American vocalist, most known for her recorded background vocals
* Carville Benson (1872–1929), American politician
* Catherine Benson (born 1992), American rugby union player
* Catherine Brewer Benson (1822–1908), one of the earliest women to earn a college bachelor's degree in the U.S.
* Cedric Benson (1982–2019), American football player for the Green Bay Packers
* Charles Benson (born 1960), American professional football defensive end
* Chima Simone Benson (born 1982), American TV personality and freelance journalist
* Christopher Benson (businessman) (1933–2024), British company director and chairman of public bodies
* Christopher Benson (theologian) (1788–1868), Cambridge educated theologian
* Claus Benson (1889-?), American basketball player
* Cliff Benson (born 1961), American football tight end
* Connie Benson (1889–1969), Canadian professional ice hockey player
* Constance Benson (1864–1946), British stage and film actress
* Constantine Walter Benson (1909–1982), British ornithologist
* Craig Benson (born 1954), American businessman and politician
* Craig Benson (swimmer) (born 1994), Scottish double Olympian (London 2012 and Rio 2016)
* David Benson-Pope (born 1950), New Zealand politician
* Dee Benson (1948–2020), American judge
* Doug Benson (born 1962), American comedian and actor
* Duane Benson (1945–2019), American football player and politician
* E. F. Benson (Edward Frederic Benson, 1867–1940), English novelist
* Edgar Benson (1923–2011), Canadian politician
* Edward Benson (bishop) (Edward White Benson, 1829–1896), Archbishop of Canterbury
* Edwin Benson (1931–2016), American educator
* Egbert Benson (1746–1833), American politician and jurist
* Elizabeth English Benson (1904–1972), American educator
* Elmer Austin Benson (1895–1985), American politician
* Eva Benson (1875–1949), Australian artist
* Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994), American politician and the 13th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
* Frank Benson (disambiguation), several people
* Fred Benson (born 1994), Dutch-Ghanaian footballer
* Gayle Benson (born 1947), American businesswoman and sports team owner
* George Benson (disambiguation), several people
* Gordon Benson (born 1994), British triathlete
* Harry Benson (disambiguation), several people
* Herbert Benson (1935–2022), American physician
* Henry N. Benson (1872–1960), American politician
* Herbert Benson (1935–2022), American cardiologist and Harvard professor, author of The Relaxation Response
* Howard Benson (born 1956), American music producer
* Ivy Benson (1913–1993), British bandleader
* James Benson (disambiguation), several people
* Jane Benson, contemporary English artist
* Jessica Benson (born 1988), American singer
* Jo Jo Benson (1938–2014), stage name of Joseph M. Hewell, American R&B and soul singer
* Joan Benson (1925–2020), American keyboard player
* Joanne Benson (born 1943), American politician
* Jocelyn Benson (born 1977), American academic and politician
* Jodi Benson (born 1961), American voice actress and singer
* John Benson (disambiguation), several people
* Karl Benson (born 1951), American college sports administrator
* Kent Benson (born 1954), American basketball player
* Kris Benson (born 1974), American baseball player
* Lee Benson, American sports writer
* Louisa Benson (1941–2010), Burmese beauty pageant winner and Karen rebel leader
* Margaret Benson (1865–1916), English author and amateur Egyptologist
* Margaret Jane Benson (1859–1936), British botanist and scholar
* Mark Benson (engineer), German-born inventor of the Benson boiler
* Mark Benson (born 1958), English cricketer
* Martin Benson (actor) (1918–2010), British actor
* Martin Benson (bishop) (1689–1752), English churchman, Archdeacon of Berkshire and Bishop of Gloucester
* Mary Benson (hostess) (1841–1918), English hostess
* Mary Benson (campaigner) (1919–2000), South African writer and anti-apartheid activist
* Michael Benson (disambiguation), several people
* Mildred Benson (1905–2002), American writer
* Mykel Benson (born 1987), American football player
* Nicholas John Benson (born 1961), Ghanaian-American soldier, lawyer, businessman, writer
* Nicholas Benson (born 1964), American stone carver
* Nigel Benson (born 1955), British author and illustrator
* Ole E. Benson (1866–1952), American politician
* Pat Benson, American actress, known for Tequila and Bonetti
* Patricia Benson (1941–2024), American artist
* Perry Benson (born 1961), English actor
* Ray Benson (born 1951), American actor and composer
* Raymond Benson (born 1955), American author
* Renaldo Benson ("Obie" Benson, 1936–2005), American soul and R&B singer and songwriter
* Rex Benson (merchant banker) (1889–1968), English merchant banker and army officer
* Rhian Benson (born 1977), Ghanaian singer
* Richard Benson (musician) (1955–2022), English-Italian guitarist
* Richard Meux Benson (1824–1915), Anglican clergyman and founder of an Anglican religious order
* Rita Romilly Benson (1900–1980), American actress and acting teacher
* Robert Benson (disambiguation), several people
* Ron Benson (1925–1997), English professional footballer
* Sally Benson (1897–1972), American screenwriter
* Sally Benson (professor), professor of energy engineering at Stanford University
* Sam Benson (1909–1995), Australian politician
* Samuel P. Benson (1804–1876), United States Representative from Maine
* Seve Benson (born 1986), English professional golfer
* Shaun Benson (born 1976), Canadian actor
* Shebin Benson (born 1995), Indian film actor from the Malayalam film industry
* Sheila Benson, American journalist and film critic
* Sheri Benson, Canadian politician
* Simon Benson (1851–1942), Norwegian-born American logging entrepreneur and philanthropist
* Stella Benson (1892–1933), English feminist, novelist, poet, and travel writer
* Stephanie Benson (Princess Akua Ohenewaa Asieanem of Kokobin), UK based Ghanaian singer and performer
* Stephen Allen Benson (1816–1865), President of Liberia 1856–1864
* Steve Benson (disambiguation), several people
* Susan Porter Benson (1943–2005), American historian
* T. D. Benson (1857–1926), British socialist activist
* T. O. S. Benson (1917–2008), Nigerian lawyer
* Taylor Benson (1922–1996), member of the Wisconsin State Senate
* Teco Benson, Nigerian film director and producer
* Tom Benson (disambiguation), several people
* Tony Benson (athlete) (born 1942), Australian long-distance runner
* Tony Benson (rugby league) (born 1965), New Zealand rugby league coach
* Trent Benson (born 1971), South Korean-born American murderer
* Trinity Benson (born 1997), American football player
* Troy Benson (born 1963), professional American football player
* Trudy Benson (born 1985), American artist
* Vern Benson (1924–2014), American baseball player
* Violet Benson (online alias Daddy Issues), Russian-born American Internet personality
* Warren Benson (1924–2005), American composer and timpanist
* Wayne Benson, American mandolinist and songwriter in the bluegrass tradition
* Wendy Benson (born 1971), American actress seen in many television shows
* Will Benson (born 1998), American baseball player
* William Benson (disambiguation), several people
* Zach Benson (born 2005), Canadian ice hockey player

## Fictional characters

* Carly Corinthos (née Benson), role played by Sarah Joy Brown and Laura Wright in American soap opera General Hospital
* Cynthia Benson, a character in the 1988 American fantasy comedy-drama movie Big
* Freddie Benson, role played by Nathan Kress in American TV sitcom iCarly
* Kurt Benson, character in British soap opera Hollyoaks
* Olivia Benson, character in American police drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, played by Mariska Hargitay
* Benson, brother-in-law of Deputy Arthel Queen in the novel Deliverance
* Jamesir Bensonmum, character played by Sir Alec Guinness in the 1976 comedy film Murder by Death
* Zoe Benson, character played by Taissa Farmiga in American Horror Story: Coven
* Barry B. Benson, Bee protagonist played by Jerry Seinfeld in Bee Movie
* Benson Dunwoody, a main character in the animated television series Regular Show
* Benson, one of two main protagonists in the novel Memorial by Bryan Washington