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

Berhane, 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 Berhane surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Berhane in America

Berhane is the 22530th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Berhane surname appeared 1,141 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 Berhane.

We can also compare 2010 data for Berhane 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 Berhane

The surname Berhane originates from Eritrea, a country located in the Horn of Africa. It can be traced back to the 15th century, with roots in the Semitic languages spoken in the region, particularly Tigrinya and Tigre.

Berhane is derived from the Semitic word "berhan," which means "light" or "illumination." It was likely given to individuals who were associated with light, either literally or metaphorically, such as those who worked with candles or lamps, or those who were seen as enlightened or wise.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Berhane is found in a manuscript from the 16th century, which mentions a certain Berhane Asghedom, a prominent scholar and religious leader in the region.

In the 17th century, there are records of a village called Debre Berhane, which translates to "Mountain of Light," suggesting that the name was associated with particular locations or geographical features.

Berhane Welde Gabriel (1890-1965) was a renowned Eritrean poet and playwright, known for his contributions to the preservation of Eritrean literature and culture.

Berhane Abrehe (1907-1980) was an Eritrean intellectual and politician who played a significant role in the country's struggle for independence from colonial rule.

Berhane Kidane (1916-1995) was a prominent Eritrean artist, celebrated for his paintings and murals depicting the rich cultural heritage of Eritrea.

Berhane Haile Mariam (1927-2018) was an Eritrean diplomat and one of the first ambassadors appointed by the independent Eritrean government in the 1990s.

Berhane Gebregziabher (1941-2010) was an Eritrean freedom fighter and military leader who played a crucial role in the country's liberation struggle against Ethiopian occupation.

Throughout its history, the surname Berhane has been associated with various fields, including education, literature, politics, art, and military service, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of individuals bearing this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Berhane

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

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

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

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