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

Assefa, 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 Assefa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Assefa in America

Assefa is the 23472nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Assefa surname appeared 1,083 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 Assefa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Assefa 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 Assefa

The surname Assefa has its origins in Ethiopia, dating back to the medieval period of the country's history. It is believed to be derived from the Amharic word "assefa," which means "he has multiplied" or "he has increased." This name was likely given to individuals or families who were prosperous or had a large number of descendants.

The earliest recorded references to the name Assefa can be found in various historical documents and records from the 14th and 15th centuries. During this time, Ethiopia was ruled by the Solomonic dynasty, and many noble families and individuals held the name Assefa. One notable example is Assefa Deresa, a prominent military leader who served under Emperor Zara Yaqob in the mid-15th century.

In the 16th century, the name Assefa appeared in the chronicles of the Portuguese explorer Alvares, who visited the court of Emperor Lebna Dengel in the 1520s. Alvares mentions several individuals with the name Assefa, including Assefa Giyorgis, a high-ranking official in the imperial court.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the name Assefa continued to be associated with influential families and individuals in various regions of Ethiopia. One notable bearer of the name was Assefa Krestos, a renowned scholar and writer who lived in the late 17th century and authored several religious texts.

In the 19th century, the name Assefa gained further prominence with the rise of the Shewan dynasty. Assefa Negadras, born in 1808, was a prominent military leader and governor under Emperor Tewodros II. Another notable figure was Assefa Baykedagn, a high-ranking official in the court of Emperor Menelik II, who played a significant role in the modernization of Ethiopia in the late 19th century.

As Ethiopia entered the 20th century, the name Assefa continued to be carried by individuals from various walks of life. Assefa Lemma, born in 1914, was a renowned artist and sculptor who helped shape the modern art scene in Ethiopia. Assefa Medhine, born in 1938, was a prominent writer and poet who made significant contributions to Ethiopian literature.

Throughout its history, the surname Assefa has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including nobles, military leaders, scholars, artists, and writers. While its origins can be traced back to medieval Ethiopia, the name has endured and continues to be widely used in modern times, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the country.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Assefa

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

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 Assefa 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 Assefa 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 Assefa was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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