Map of Ireland showing where the Benis arms are recorded
The Benis arms were recorded in Clare, c. 1645.
Clare was rocky western Irish country, poor in farmland but held tightly by a few old families. Land there changed hands rarely, and families who stayed put ended up in the records.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Benis arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Clare.
Origin & History of the Benis Family in Ireland
The family name Benis has deep roots in County Clare, Ireland, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1645. During this period, the region was defined by significant political upheaval and the transition of land ownership following the Cromwellian conquest. Families living in Clare at this time often navigated a complex landscape of shifting loyalties and changing social structures. The name likely emerged from a combination of local Gaelic naming traditions and the influence of settlers moving into the western parts of Ireland. As the seventeenth century progressed, the Benis family became part of the local fabric of the county, living through the agricultural and social developments that shaped rural life in the west of Ireland for generations to come.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Benedictus
Latin term meaning blessed or well spoken of.
This name
BenisAn Irish surname derived from the Latin name meaning blessed or fortunate.
also spelled
Bennys
Bennie
Benny
Beny
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
National Archives of Ireland, Civil Survey of County Clare, 1654–1656
O'Brien, John, The History of the Kingdom of Thomond, 1890
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wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
