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

Balcha, 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 Balcha surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Balcha in America

Balcha is the 122314th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Balcha surname appeared 141 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 Balcha.

The history of the last name Balcha

The surname BALCHA is believed to have originated in the Oromia region of Ethiopia, where it has been in use for several centuries. It is derived from the Oromo language and is thought to have been a personal name or nickname that later became a hereditary surname.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name BALCHA can be found in the Gadaa records, which were oral traditions and histories passed down through generations in the Oromo communities. These records mention a prominent individual named Balcha who lived in the 16th century and was a respected leader and advisor.

In the 17th century, a Muslim scholar and traveler named Balcha ibn Abdalla al-Hajji wrote a detailed account of his journey through the Horn of Africa. His travelogue, titled "Rihlat al-Hajji Balcha," provides valuable insights into the cultural and social landscapes of the region during that time period.

During the 19th century, the name BALCHA gained further prominence when Balcha Safo, a prominent military leader and governor, played a significant role in the expansion of the Ethiopian Empire under Emperor Tewodros II. Balcha Safo was born in 1825 and is remembered for his strategic military campaigns and territorial conquests.

Another notable figure with the surname BALCHA was Balcha Aba Nefso, a renowned scholar and philosopher who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. His works on Oromo culture, religion, and philosophy have been widely studied and celebrated within the Oromo community.

In the 20th century, Balcha Deressa, born in 1920, was a prominent Ethiopian politician and diplomat. He served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and played a crucial role in shaping Ethiopia's foreign policy during the turbulent years of the 1970s.

Over the centuries, the name BALCHA has maintained a strong presence in the Oromia region and has been carried by numerous individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, military leaders, politicians, and community leaders.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Balcha

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

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

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

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