Origin: Germanic Old English prefix
Benton has 3 different meanings across 2 categories:
United States artist whose paintings portrayed life in the Midwest and South (1889-1975)
"The National Gallery acquired a new painting by Benton depicting farm laborers in the Midwest."
United States legislator who opposed the use of paper currency (1782-1858)
"The historical record often cites Benton as the prominent United States legislator who opposed the use of paper currency."
A surname.
"Many residents at the family reunion were surprised to learn that Mr. Benton was actually a distant cousin rather than just an old friend."
The name Benton likely comes from combining an old word for a bean or bentgrass with the term for an enclosure or settlement. It originally referred to a place where beans were grown or a community built around such land.