This interesting surname is of medieval Germanic origin, and is a locational name from Benzingen, Wurtt, Germany. The place is so named from the German "binse", meaning rush, and meant "place overgrown with rushes". Locational surnames were developed when former inhabitants of a place moved to another area, usually to seek work, and were best identified by the name of their birthplace. One Friedrich Bentziger was a stonemason in Wasserburg, Germany, in 1515. The surname can also be found as Benzinger, Bensing and Bentzing. Recordings of the surname from German Church Registers include, the christening of Hans, son of Christian and Barbara Benzinger, in 1619, in Ehningen, Neckarkreis, Wuertt, and the christening of Agatha, daughter of Christian and Anna Benzing, on February 7th 1635, in Schwarzwaldreis, Wuertt. The name is not recorded in England until much later on. On January 27th 1805, Martin, son of Martin and Elizabeth Benzing, was christened at St. Leonard's, Shoreditch, London, and Christian, son of Christian and Ann Benzing, was christened at St. Mary Whitechapel, Stepney, also in London, on April 18th 1824. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Hans Bentzinger, which was dated 1424, in "Medieval Records of Markt Oberndorf", Germany, during the reign of Sigismund, Holy Roman (German) Emperor, 1410 - 1437. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.