Saint Benedict

There have been several Saint Benedicts. The most famous is probably

• Saint Benedict of Nursia (?480-?547), the Founder of the western tradition of monasticism, in the Roman Catholic church. (See Benedictine Order.)
• Benedict Biscop c.628-689/90), also called Benet Biscop. ('Benet' (or 'Bene't') is an Old English contraction of Benedict.) 'Biscop' is the Old English spelling of the word 'Bishop', but appears to have been his family name: he is first recorded as Biscop Baducing. Saint Benedict Biscop was a monk, founder of the monasteries of St Peter at Wearmouth (Monkwearmouth) (674) and St Paul at Jarrow (682). Benedict Biscop was a traveller, scholar and collector of books for the monastic library. He was one of Bede's teachers
• Pope Benedict II (684-5)

One of the 16 Popes called Benedict, Benedict XI, has also officially been Blessed - the rank in the lists of the virtuous below that of Saint.

AWE has a page on the names that have been formed in English from the name Benedict.