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

Dawit, 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 Dawit surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dawit in America

Dawit is the 45412th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dawit surname appeared 471 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 Dawit.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dawit 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 Dawit

The surname "DAWIT" is of Ethiopian origin, tracing its roots back to the ancient kingdom of Aksum, which flourished in the region of present-day Eritrea and northern Ethiopia between the 1st and 7th centuries AD. The name is derived from the Ge'ez language, one of the oldest Semitic tongues, and its meaning is believed to be associated with concepts such as "beloved" or "friend."

One of the earliest known references to the name "DAWIT" can be found in the Kebre Negest, an ancient Ethiopian text dating back to the 14th century. This manuscript, which recounts the legendary origins of the Solomonic dynasty, mentions several individuals bearing the name, suggesting its widespread usage during that era.

In the 16th century, a prominent figure named Dawit II ascended to the throne of the Ethiopian Empire, ruling from 1508 to 1540. His reign was marked by significant cultural and religious developments, as well as conflicts with neighboring kingdoms and the expanding Ottoman Empire.

Another notable bearer of the name was Dawit III, who reigned as Emperor of Ethiopia from 1716 to 1721. His rule was marked by internal turmoil and a power struggle with rival factions, ultimately leading to his deposition and subsequent imprisonment.

The name "DAWIT" has also been associated with several influential religious figures throughout Ethiopian history. One such individual was Dawit of Gunda Gunde, a revered abbot and monastic leader who lived in the 15th century and played a pivotal role in the spread of Christianity in the region.

In more recent times, the name has been carried by individuals such as Dawit Wolde Giorgis, an Ethiopian politician and diplomat who served as the country's first post-imperial prime minister from 1955 to 1957, and Dawit Isaak, a Swedish-Eritrean journalist and writer who has been imprisoned in Eritrea since 2001 for his critical reporting on the government.

While the name "DAWIT" has its roots in ancient Ethiopian history, it has also transcended borders and been adopted by individuals of various backgrounds, reflecting the rich cultural exchange and interconnectedness of the modern world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dawit

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

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

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

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