# Bennet (surname)

Bennet is an English language surname and, less commonly, a given name. Alternative spellings include Bennett, Benett, Benet and Bennette.
Bennet is an Anglo-Norman English surname with Norman roots, from the medieval personal name Benedict (from the Latin Benedictus, 'blessed'). In the 12th century, it became a common given name throughout Europe due to the popularity of St Benedict (c. 480 – c. 543). The Latin form of the name was found in England, alongside versions derived from the Old French forms Beneit and Benoit, which was common among the Normans.

## People

Notable people with the surname include:
* Abraham Bennet (1749–buried 1799), English physicist
* Carl Bennet (born 1951), Swedish businessman and billionaire
* Charles Bennet, 6th Earl of Tankerville (1810–1899), British peer and politician
* Chloe Bennet (born 1992), American actress
* Christopher Bennet (1617–1655), English physician
* Douglas J. Bennet (1938–2018), American diplomat and president of Wesleyan University
* Eduardo Bennet (born 1968), Honduran soccer player
* Ferdinando Bennet (1850–1929), English soldier and cricketer
* Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington (1618–1685), English statesman
* Isabella Bennet, 2nd Countess of Arlington (c. 1668–1723), British peer and heiress
* James Bennet, a number of individuals with the name
** James Bennet (clergyman) (1817–1901), Irish Presbyterian clergyman, writer and author
** James Bennet (journalist), American newspaper and magazine editor
** James Bennet (politician) (1830–1908), Liberal Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand
* John Bennet, a number of individuals with the name
** John Bennet of the Bennet baronets
** John Bennet (composer) (c. 1575–after 1614), English composer
** John Bennet (judge) (1552/3–1627), English judge and MP accused of corruption
** John Bennet (preacher) (1714–1759), English Methodist preacher
** John Bennet (MP) (1628–1663), English landowner and politician
** John Bennet, 1st Baron Ossulston (1616–1695), English statesman
** John Bennet (archaeologist) (born 1951), British archaeologist and Professor of Aegean Archaeology at Sheffield University
* Keane Grace Wallis Bennet (died 2014), British girl who died in an accident
* Lyn Bennet, American politician from Montana
* Michael Bennet (born 1964), United States politician, Senator from Colorado
* Naftali Bennett, Prime minister of Israel 2021–2022
* Olivia Bennet (1830–1922), British countess
* Spencer Gordon Bennet (1893–1987), American film producer and director
* Thomas Bennet, a number of individuals with the name
** Thomas Bennet (clergyman), English clergyman
** Thomas Bennet (academic), British academic and administrator, Master of University College, Oxford
* William Bennet, a number of individuals with the name
** William Bennet (MP for Ripon) (died 1609), MP for Ripon
** William Bennet (bishop) (1746–1820), Bishop of Cloyne and antiquary
** William Bennet (musician) (1767?–1833?), English musician
** William Stiles Bennet (1870–1962), American politician
** William S. Bennet II (1934–2009), American business executive
** William Bennet (engineer) (active 1790–1826), English canal engineer (also spelled Bennett)
** Sir William Bennet, 1st Baronet (died 1710) of the Bennet baronets
** Sir William Bennet, 2nd Baronet (died 1729), member of 1st Parliament of Great Britain
** Sir William Bennet, 3rd Baronet (died 1733) of the Bennet baronets

## Fictional characters

Fictional characters with the surname include:
* The Bennet family in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice
** Mr. Bennet (Pride and Prejudice)
** Mrs. Bennet
** Elizabeth Bennet, daughter of the above
* The Bennet family in the Heroes TV series:
** Claire Bennet, cheerleader character
** Noah Bennet, adoptive father of Claire, known as "Horn-Rimmed Glasses"
** Sandra Bennet, Noah's wife and Claire's adoptive mother
** Lyle Bennet, son of Noah and Sandra
* Bennet from the 1985 action film Commando
* Vice President Kathryn Bennet, a character from the 1997 action film Air Force One