Benson (surname)
Benson is a common patronymic surname of English origin meaning "son of Ben". 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, English poet and essayist
- A. V. Benson, South Australian medical doctor and sports enthusiast
- Ada Benson, British headmistress and educationist
- Adolph B. Benson, Swedish-American educator and historian
- Al Benson, American radio DJ, music promoter and record label owner
- Al Benson (basketball), American professional basketball player
- Alexander Benson, American diplomat
- Alfred W. Benson, United States Senator from Kansas
- Allan L. Benson, American journalist and Socialist presidential candidate
- Allen Benson, American professional baseball player
- Amber Benson, American actress
- Ambrosius Benson, Italian painter, part of the Northern Renaissance
- Andrew Benson, American chemist
- Anna Benson, American model
- Annette Benson, British film actress
- Sir Arthur Benson, British colonial administrator and governor
- Arthur W. Benson, American industrialist and real-estate developer
- Ashley Benson, American actress
- Aslag Benson, member of the North Dakota Senate from 1903 to 1906
- Barry W. Benson, secretary of state of Mississippi
- Benny Benson, creator of Alaska's state flag
- Bernadette Benson, Canadian born athlete specialising in ultra distance events
- Bernard Benson, British inventor, author of The Peace Book
- Bertil W. Benson, Norwegian-born American politician in North Dakota
- Bill Benson (rugby league), Australian rugby league player
- Bob Benson (footballer), English professional footballer
- Bobby Benson, Nigerian entertainer and musician who influenced the Nigerian music scene
- Brad Benson, American football player
- Brendan Benson, American musician
- Breanne Benson, Albanian pornographic actress
- Bruce Benson (disambiguation), several people
- Bryan Benson, Governor of the Bank of England from 1735 to 1737
- C. Irving Benson, Australian Methodist minister
- Carl Benson, pseudonym of American writer Charles Astor Bristed
- Carla L. Benson, American vocalist, most known for her recorded background vocals
- Carville Benson, American politician
- Catherine Benson, American rugby union player
- Catherine Brewer Benson, one of the earliest women to earn a college bachelor's degree in the U.S.
- Cedric Benson, American football player for the Green Bay Packers
- Charles Benson, American professional football defensive end
- Chima Simone Benson, American TV personality and freelance journalist
- Christopher Benson (businessman), British company director and chairman of public bodies
- Christopher Benson (theologian), Cambridge educated theologian
- Claus Benson, American basketball player
- Cliff Benson, American football tight end
- Connie Benson, Canadian professional ice hockey player
- Constance Benson, British stage and film actress
- Constantine Walter Benson, British ornithologist
- Craig Benson, American businessman and politician
- Craig Benson (swimmer), Scottish double Olympian
- David Benson-Pope, New Zealand politician
- Dee Benson, American judge
- Doug Benson, American comedian and actor
- Duane Benson, American football player and politician
- E. F. Benson, English novelist
- Edgar Benson, Canadian politician
- Edward White Benson, Archbishop of Canterbury
- Edwin Benson, American educator
- Egbert Benson, American politician and jurist
- Elizabeth English Benson, American educator
- Elmer Austin Benson, American politician
- Eva Benson, Australian artist
- Ezra Taft Benson, American politician and the 13th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Frank Benson (disambiguation), several people
- Fred Benson, Dutch-Ghanaian footballer
- Gayle Benson, American businesswoman and sports team owner
- George Benson (disambiguation), several people
- Gordon Benson, British triathlete
- Harry Benson (disambiguation), several people
- Herbert Benson, American physician
- Henry N. Benson, American politician
- Herbert Benson, American cardiologist and Harvard professor, author of The Relaxation Response
- Howard Benson, American music producer
- Irving Benson, American actor and vaudeville comedian
- Ivy Benson, British bandleader
- James Benson (disambiguation), several people
- Jane Benson, contemporary English artist
- Jessica Benson, American singer
- Jo Jo Benson, real name Joseph M. Hewell, American R&B singer
- Joan Benson, American keyboard player
- Joanne Benson, American politician
- Jocelyn Benson, American academic and politician
- Jodi Benson, American voice actress and singer
- John Benson (disambiguation), several people
- Julian Benson, Australian-born Irish choreographer
- Kahlil Benson, American football player
- Karl Benson, American college sports administrator
- Kent Benson, American basketball player
- Kris Benson, American baseball player
- Laura Benson, British actress
- Lee Benson, American sports writer
- Louisa Benson Craig, Burmese beauty pageant winner and rebel leader
- Margaret Benson, English author and amateur Egyptologist
- Margaret Jane Benson, British botanist and scholar
- Mark Benson (engineer), German-born inventor of the Benson boiler
- Mark Benson, English cricketer
- Martin Benson (actor), British actor
- Martin Benson (bishop), English churchman, Archdeacon of Berkshire and Bishop of Gloucester
- Mary Benson (hostess), English hostess
- Mary Benson (campaigner), South African writer and anti-apartheid activist
- Michael Benson (disambiguation), several people
- Mildred Benson, American writer
- Mykel Benson, American football player
- Nicholas John Benson, Ghanaian-American soldier, lawyer, businessman, writer
- Nicholas Benson, American stone carver
- Nigel Benson, British author and illustrator
- Ole E. Benson, American politician
- Pat Benson, American actress, known for Tequila and Bonetti
- Patricia Benson, American artist
- Perry Benson, English actor
- Ray Benson, American actor and composer
- Raymond Benson, American author
- Renaldo Benson, American soul and R&B singer and songwriter
- Rex Benson (merchant banker), English merchant banker and army officer
- Rhian Benson, Ghanaian singer
- Richard Benson (musician), English-Italian guitarist
- Richard Meux Benson, Anglican clergyman and founder of religious order
- Rita Romilly Benson, American actress and acting teacher
- Robert Benson (disambiguation), several people
- Ron Benson, English professional footballer
- Sally Benson, American screenwriter
- Sally Benson (professor), professor of energy engineering at Stanford University
- Sam Benson, Australian politician
- Samuel P. Benson, United States Representative from Maine
- Seve Benson, English professional golfer
- Shaun Benson, Canadian actor
- Shebin Benson, Indian film actor from the Malayalam film industry
- Sheila Benson, American journalist and film critic
- Sheri Benson, Canadian politician
- Simon Benson, Norwegian-born American logging entrepreneur and philanthropist
- Stella Benson, English feminist, novelist, poet, and travel writer
- Stephanie Benson, UK based Ghanaian singer and performer
- Stephen Allen Benson, President of Liberia 1856–1864
- Steve Benson (disambiguation), several people
- Susan Porter Benson, American historian
- T. D. Benson, British socialist activist
- T. O. S. Benson, Nigerian lawyer
- Taylor Benson, member of the Wisconsin State Senate
- Teco Benson, Nigerian film director and producer
- Thor Benson, independent journalist
- Tiger Benson, British pornographic actress of Japanese descent
- Tom Benson (disambiguation), several people
- Tony Benson (athlete), Australian long-distance runner
- Tony Benson (rugby league), New Zealand rugby league coach
- Trent Benson, South Korean-born American murderer
- Trinity Benson, American football player
- Troy Benson, professional American football player
- Trudy Benson, American artist
- Vern Benson, American baseball player
- Violet Benson, Russian-born American Internet personality
- Warren Benson, American composer and timpanist
- Wayne Benson, American mandolinist and songwriter in the bluegrass tradition
- Wendy Benson, American actress seen in many television shows
- Will Benson, American baseball player
- William Benson (disambiguation), several people
- Zach Benson, Canadian ice hockey player
Fictional characters
- Carly Corinthos, role played by Sarah Joy Brown and Laura Wright in American soap opera General Hospital
- Cynthia Benson, a character in the 1988 American film 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