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

Ayalew, 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 Ayalew surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ayalew in America

Ayalew is the 53802nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ayalew surname appeared 384 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 Ayalew.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ayalew 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 Ayalew

The surname Ayalew originates from Ethiopia, and its roots can be traced back to the Amharic language, which is one of the major languages spoken in the country. The name Ayalew is derived from the Amharic words "Ay" meaning "I" and "Lew" meaning "have." Together, the name can be roughly translated to mean "I have."

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Ayalew can be found in ancient Ethiopian manuscripts and historical documents dating back to the 13th century. During this time period, the name was primarily associated with the Amhara ethnic group, one of the largest ethnic groups in Ethiopia.

In the 14th century, the name Ayalew gained prominence when it was mentioned in the Kebre Negest, an important literary work that chronicles the history and traditions of the Solomonic dynasty in Ethiopia. This book, which is considered a significant part of Ethiopian cultural heritage, references several individuals with the surname Ayalew.

One notable figure in Ethiopian history who bore the surname Ayalew was Abba Ayalew, a prominent religious leader and scholar who lived in the 17th century. He was renowned for his vast knowledge of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church's teachings and played a crucial role in preserving and disseminating religious texts during his lifetime.

Another important figure with the surname Ayalew was Lij Ayalew, a military commander who served under Emperor Tewodros II in the 19th century. Lij Ayalew was known for his bravery and strategic skills on the battlefield, and his exploits were documented in various historical accounts from that era.

In the 20th century, the surname Ayalew continued to be prominent in Ethiopia. One notable individual was Ayalew Mersha, a renowned Ethiopian painter and artist who was born in 1914 and is considered one of the pioneers of modern Ethiopian art. His works are widely celebrated for their unique blend of traditional Ethiopian motifs and contemporary artistic styles.

Additionally, the name Ayalew has been associated with various place names and localities within Ethiopia. For example, there is a town called Ayalew located in the Amhara region, which was likely named after an individual or family with the surname Ayalew.

While the surname Ayalew is predominantly found in Ethiopia, it has also gained recognition globally, with individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in various fields, such as academia, literature, and politics.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ayalew

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

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

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

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