Find out how popular the last name Asefa is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Asefa.

Asefa, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Asefa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Asefa in America

Asefa is the 79846th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Asefa surname appeared 238 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Asefa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Asefa to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Asefa

The surname Asefa originates from Ethiopia, with its roots dating back to the 17th century. It is believed to have derived from the Amharic word "asefa," which means "he has become abundant" or "he has become numerous." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to individuals who had a large family or a prosperous lineage.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Asefa can be traced back to the Gondar region of Ethiopia, where it appears in historical records from the reign of Emperor Fasilidas (1632-1667). During this period, the Asefa family is mentioned as being among the prominent noble families in the region.

In the 18th century, the Asefa name gained prominence with the rise of Asefa Ayalneh, a renowned military leader who played a crucial role in defending the Ethiopian Empire against the invading forces of Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi, also known as Ahmad Gragn. Asefa Ayalneh's bravery and strategic prowess earned him a place in Ethiopian history, and his descendants carried the name with pride.

The Asefa surname also appears in several ancient manuscripts and chronicles, such as the "Kebra Nagast," which recounts the legendary origins of the Solomonic dynasty in Ethiopia. This suggests that the name has been associated with nobility and prestigious lineages throughout Ethiopian history.

Notable individuals bearing the Asefa surname include:

1. Asefa Arega (1884-1955), an Ethiopian writer, poet, and scholar who played a significant role in promoting Amharic literature.
2. Asefa Gebrehiwot (1891-1976), an Ethiopian politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the 1940s.
3. Asefa Mamo (1901-1979), an Ethiopian military commander who fought against the Italian invasion of Ethiopia in the 1930s.
4. Asefa Degafa (1922-2007), an Ethiopian athlete and Olympic medalist who won a bronze medal in the marathon event at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
5. Asefa Bekele (born 1964), an Ethiopian long-distance runner and multiple-time winner of the prestigious Boston Marathon.

While the Asefa surname has its roots in Ethiopia, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its historical significance and connection to the rich cultural heritage of Ethiopia remain deeply embedded in its origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Asefa

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Asefa.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Asefa was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Asefa has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Asefa was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Asefa, please contact us.

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