Benítez

Benítez is a surname of Spanish origin. It is one of the many patronymic names formed with the suffix -ez, meaning “son of” or “descendant of.” The form is derived from the given name Benito, which in turn comes from the Latin Benedictus, meaning “blessed.”

It is common in Spain and across the Spanish-speaking world. In modern demographics, Benítez is particularly frequent in Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay, among others. The name spread through migration and colonial settlement, and it is also found among Hispanic communities in the United States and other countries.

Spelling can vary with diacritics; Benítez is the standard Spanish spelling, with the acute accent on the í. In contexts without diacritics or in non-Spanish languages, it is commonly written as Benitez.

Numerous individuals bearing the surname have achieved prominence in areas such as sports, politics, arts, and science, reflecting its broad geographic distribution. This article does not enumerate people, but Benítez is widely recognized in public life.

For genealogical and onomastic research, variations in spelling may occur in historical records due to changes in orthography, immigration, and administrative practices. The name Benítez thus represents a common example of a Spanish patronymic surname with deep roots in Iberian and Latin American communities.