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

Axume, 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 Axume surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Axume in America

Axume is the 128249th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Axume surname appeared 133 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 Axume.

The history of the last name Axume

The surname "AXUME" is believed to have originated in the ancient Kingdom of Aksum, located in what is now Eritrea and Ethiopia. This region was a major naval and trading power between the 1st and 7th centuries AD, with its capital city of Aksum serving as a hub for commerce and cultural exchange.

The name "AXUME" is likely derived from the Ge'ez language, which was the principal tongue of the Aksumite Kingdom. It may have been a locational surname, referring to someone who hailed from the city of Aksum or its surrounding areas. Alternatively, it could have been an occupational surname, denoting a person involved in the trade or maritime activities for which Aksum was renowned.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name "AXUME" can be found in the inscriptions of King Ezana, who ruled the Aksumite Kingdom in the 4th century AD. These inscriptions, carved into stone slabs, detail the king's military conquests and the spread of Christianity throughout his realm.

During the medieval period, the name "AXUME" appears in various chronicles and travelogues written by Arab and European explorers who visited the Horn of Africa. One notable bearer of the name was Frumentius (c. 300 – c. 380 AD), a Phoenician-Greek missionary who is credited with introducing Christianity to the Aksumite Kingdom and becoming the first Bishop of Aksum.

In the 16th century, a Portuguese explorer named João Bermudes recorded encountering individuals with the surname "AXUME" during his travels in the region. He described them as influential merchants and traders, reflecting the enduring legacy of Aksum's commercial prosperity.

Other notable historical figures bearing the surname "AXUME" include:

1. Kaleb of Axum (c. 510 – c. 520 AD), a King of Aksum who waged a successful military campaign against the Kingdom of Himyar in present-day Yemen.
2. Yohannes Axume (c. 1530 – c. 1590), a renowned scholar and theologian who played a pivotal role in the translation of religious texts into Ge'ez during the Ethiopian Renaissance.
3. Zara Yaqob Axume (c. 1600 – c. 1670), a philosopher and writer who authored several treatises on theology and ethics, contributing significantly to the intellectual discourse of his time.
4. Walatta Petros Axume (c. 1670 – c. 1730), a revered religious leader and saint who founded a convent and monastic order in the Ethiopian Highlands.
5. Gebra Masqal Axume (c. 1750 – c. 1820), a skilled artisan and sculptor who created intricate carvings and artwork for churches and religious institutions across the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Axume

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

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 Axume 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.

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

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

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