2000
#30,970
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 709
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.26
Rare Last name
Bekele
Originating from Amharic language in Ethiopia, meaning a prudent or fortunate person.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,764 Americans carry the last name Bekele. That puts it at #12,315 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.81 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 124,007 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bekele surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
2.8K
1 in 124,007
Census rank
#12,315
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.4K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,410 bearers of the surname Bekele in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.81 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 12315th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bekele, the largest self-reported group is Black at 94.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.3%) and White (2.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bekele
The surname BEKELE originated in Ethiopia, where it has been used for centuries. It is derived from the Amharic word "bekele," which means "be grateful" or "give thanks." This name likely originated as a descriptive surname, given to someone who was known for their gratitude or thankful nature.
The earliest known record of the name BEKELE dates back to the 16th century, when it appeared in a historical manuscript detailing the lineage of a prominent Ethiopian family. This document mentions a man named Bekele Gebre, who was a respected advisor to the Emperor at the time.
In the 17th century, the name BEKELE can be found in several religious texts and church records from the region around Gondar, which was the capital of Ethiopia during that time period. One notable example is the Debre Berhan Selassie Church, where a monk named Bekele Kidane is recorded as having lived and worked.
By the 18th century, the name BEKELE had spread to other parts of Ethiopia, appearing in various local records and historical documents. One prominent individual from this era was Bekele Wossen, a military leader who played a significant role in defending the country against regional conflicts.
As time passed, the name BEKELE continued to be passed down through generations, and several notable individuals bore this surname. Some examples include:
1. Bekele Merdessa (1896-1968), an Ethiopian diplomat and politician who served as a minister in the government.
2. Bekele Woldemariam (1920-1998), a prominent Ethiopian artist and painter known for his vibrant depictions of traditional life.
3. Bekele Geleta (1931-2007), an influential Ethiopian academic and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of Amharic literature.
4. Bekele Bishaw (1947-2001), a renowned Ethiopian journalist and writer who was vocal in advocating for human rights and democracy.
5. Bekele Mergia (1952-present), a legendary Ethiopian musician and composer known for his innovative contributions to the Ethio-jazz genre.
The surname BEKELE has a rich history and cultural significance in Ethiopia, where it has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including politicians, artists, academics, and musicians. Its meaning and origins are deeply rooted in the Amharic language and the country's rich cultural heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bekele
Among Census respondents with the surname Bekele, the largest self-reported group is Black at 94.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.3%) and White (2.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Bekele bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Bekele surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American94.5% · 2,278
- Two or more races2.3% · 56
- White2.1% · 50
- Hispanic or Latino0.6% · 14
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.4% · 10
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.1% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Bekele
Bekele appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#18,385
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,506
+797 bearers (+112.4%)
Per 100,000 0.51
Rank movement Up 12,585 places
2020
#12,315
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,410
+904 bearers (+60.0%)
Per 100,000 0.81
Rank movement Up 6,070 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #30,970 | 709 | 0.26 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #18,385 | 1,506 | 0.51 | +797 bearers (+112.4%) | Up 12,585 places |
| 2020 | #12,315 | 2,410 | 0.81 | +904 bearers (+60.0%) | Up 6,070 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Bekele surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #18,385 | #12,315 | 33.0% |
| Count | 1,506 | 2,410 | 60.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.51 | 0.81 | 58.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Bekele bearers went from 1,506 to 2,410 (+60.0% change). The surname moved up 6,070 positions in the national ranking, going from #18,385 to #12,315.
FAQ
Bekele surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Bekele?
Name Census estimates that about 2,764 living Americans carry the surname Bekele. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 124,007 residents.
How common is Bekele?
Bekele ranks #12,315 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.81 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,410 people with the surname Bekele. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,764), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.81 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.81 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Bekele.
Has Bekele become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Bekele went from 1,506 recorded bearers to 2,410. That is an increase of 904 (+60.0%). In the national ranking it rose from #18,385 to #12,315.
What does the Census say about the background of Bekele?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bekele, the largest self-reported group is Black at 94.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.3%) and White (2.1%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Black is the largest self-reported group for the surname Bekele in the 2020 Census, accounting for 94.5% (2,278 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Bekele appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (94.5%), Two or More Races (2.3%), White (2.1%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Bekele (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Bekele mean?
Originating from Amharic language in Ethiopia, meaning a prudent or fortunate person. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Bekele (0.81 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Bekele?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.