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

Belete, 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 Belete surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Belete in America

Belete is the 56310th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Belete surname appeared 363 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 Belete.

We can also compare 2010 data for Belete 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 Belete

The surname BELETE originated in the highlands of Ethiopia, dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Amharic word "belew," which means "to flourish" or "to thrive." The name was initially given to individuals who lived in areas known for their fertile lands and abundant crops.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name BELETE can be found in the chronicles of the Solomonic dynasty, which ruled Ethiopia from the 13th to the 20th century. The name appears in a manuscript detailing the reign of Emperor Yekuno Amlak, who ruled from 1270 to 1285.

During the 14th century, the BELETE family gained prominence in the region of Shewa, which was a center of power and influence in the Ethiopian Empire. Several members of the family held positions of authority and were renowned for their military prowess and leadership skills.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Abba BELETE played a significant role in the Ethiopian resistance against the Ottoman invasion. He was a skilled warrior and strategist who helped rally the local population to defend their homeland.

The BELETE name was also associated with the monastic tradition in Ethiopia. In the 17th century, a famous monk named Gebre BELETE founded a prominent monastery in the Amhara region, which became a center of learning and religious study.

Another notable individual with the surname BELETE was Negash BELETE, a 19th-century diplomat and ambassador who represented Ethiopia in various European courts. He was instrumental in establishing diplomatic relations with several European nations and played a crucial role in promoting Ethiopia's interests on the international stage.

Throughout history, the BELETE surname has been associated with various place names in Ethiopia, such as Belete-Giyorgis, Belete-Mikael, and Belete-Semayt. These places were often named after prominent members of the BELETE family or were areas where the family had significant land holdings or influence.

While the BELETE surname has its roots in Ethiopia, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the rich cultural heritage of the Ethiopian highlands.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Belete

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

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

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

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