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

Berhanu, 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 Berhanu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Berhanu in America

Berhanu is the 42378th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Berhanu surname appeared 512 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 Berhanu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Berhanu 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 Berhanu

The surname BERHANU originates from Ethiopia and has its roots in the Amharic language, which is the official language of the country. The name is derived from the Amharic words "ber" meaning "light" and "hanu" meaning "existence" or "being". Thus, the name BERHANU can be translated to mean "existence of light" or "being of light".

The earliest recorded instances of the name BERHANU can be traced back to the 16th century, during the reign of the Solomonic dynasty in Ethiopia. It is believed that the name was initially used by members of the noble class or those associated with the royal court, as it carries a spiritual and poetic connotation.

In the 17th century, a renowned Ethiopian scholar and philosopher named Zera Yacob Berhanu (1599-1692) gained prominence for his contributions to the fields of theology and philosophy. His works were widely studied and discussed in religious circles of the time, further solidifying the name BERHANU in the country's cultural fabric.

During the 19th century, the name BERHANU gained more widespread popularity among the general population. One notable figure from this era was Ras Berhanu Melaku (1820-1890), a prominent military leader and governor who played a significant role in the unification of Ethiopia under Emperor Tewodros II.

In the early 20th century, Berhanu Zewde (1901-1971) emerged as a prominent figure in the field of education. He was a renowned educator and author who made significant contributions to the modernization of the Ethiopian education system and the promotion of Amharic literature.

Another notable individual with the surname BERHANU was Berhanu Baykedagn (1907-1964), a celebrated Ethiopian artist and sculptor. His works, which often depicted traditional Ethiopian themes and motifs, are considered iconic representations of the country's cultural heritage.

Throughout the centuries, the name BERHANU has maintained its significance and cultural relevance in Ethiopia. It continues to be a widely used surname, carrying with it a rich historical and linguistic heritage that reflects the country's unique cultural identity.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Berhanu

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

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

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

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