2010
#160,975
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 100
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.03
Very Rare Last name
Demessie
An Amharic surname meaning "of Messiah" or "follower of Christ".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 138 Americans carry the last name Demessie. That puts it at #142,049 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,483,727 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Demessie 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
138
1 in 2,483,727
Census rank
#142,049
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
120
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 120 bearers of the surname Demessie in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 142049th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Demessie, the largest self-reported group is Black at 90.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.0%) and Hispanic (2.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Demessie
The surname DEMESSIE is believed to have originated in Ethiopia, derived from the Amharic language spoken in that region. It is thought to have emerged sometime in the 16th or 17th century, during the height of the Solomonic dynasty that ruled over the Ethiopian Empire.
One theory suggests that DEMESSIE may have been derived from the Amharic word "demessie," which translates to "judge" or "one who judges." This could indicate that the name was initially given to individuals who held roles as judges or legal officials in the imperial court or local communities.
Another possibility is that DEMESSIE is a locational surname, referring to a specific place or region within Ethiopia. It is not uncommon for surnames to originate from the names of villages, towns, or geographical features where families resided or held influence.
In terms of historical references, the earliest known record of the DEMESSIE surname can be traced back to the 17th century, where it appears in various imperial chronicles and legal documents from the reign of Emperor Fasilides (r. 1632-1667). These documents mention individuals with the DEMESSIE surname serving in administrative and judicial capacities.
One notable figure bearing the DEMESSIE name was Abba Melake Tsehay DEMESSIE, a prominent scholar and ecclesiastical leader who lived in the late 17th century. He was known for his contributions to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and his extensive writings on religious and philosophical subjects.
In the 19th century, Dejazmach Guddissa DEMESSIE was a respected military leader and provincial governor who played a significant role in the expansionist campaigns of Emperor Tewodros II (r. 1855-1868). His exploits are documented in various historical accounts from that era.
Another individual of note was Liqe Mekwas DEMESSIE, a renowned artist and calligrapher who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His intricate religious manuscripts and paintings are considered masterpieces of Ethiopian art and are preserved in various museums and collections.
During the 20th century, Blattengeta Heruy DEMESSIE (1892-1976) was a prominent politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Ethiopia under Emperor Haile Selassie I. He played a crucial role in representing Ethiopia on the international stage and advocating for the country's sovereignty.
Lastly, Yohannes DEMESSIE (1923-2004) was a distinguished Ethiopian writer, historian, and academic. He authored numerous books and scholarly works on Ethiopian history, culture, and literature, contributing significantly to the preservation and dissemination of knowledge about his country's rich heritage.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have carried the DEMESSIE surname, which has deep roots in the cultural and historical tapestry of Ethiopia.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Demessie
Among Census respondents with the surname Demessie, the largest self-reported group is Black at 90.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.0%) and Hispanic (2.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Demessie 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 Demessie surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American90.8% · 109
- Two or more races5.0% · 6
- Hispanic or Latino2.5% · 3
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Demessie
Demessie appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#142,049
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 120
+20 bearers (+20.0%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 18,926 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #160,975 | 100 | 0.03 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #142,049 | 120 | 0.04 | +20 bearers (+20.0%) | Up 18,926 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 Demessie 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 | #160,975 | #142,049 | 11.8% |
| Count | 100 | 120 | 20.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.04 | 33.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Demessie bearers went from 100 to 120 (+20.0% change). The surname moved up 18,926 positions in the national ranking, going from #160,975 to #142,049.
FAQ
Demessie surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Demessie?
Name Census estimates that about 138 living Americans carry the surname Demessie. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,483,727 residents.
How common is Demessie?
Demessie ranks #142,049 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 120 people with the surname Demessie. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (138), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Demessie.
Has Demessie become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Demessie went from 100 recorded bearers to 120. That is an increase of 20 (+20.0%). In the national ranking it rose from #160,975 to #142,049.
What does the Census say about the background of Demessie?
Among Census respondents with the surname Demessie, the largest self-reported group is Black at 90.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.0%) and Hispanic (2.5%). 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 Demessie in the 2020 Census, accounting for 90.8% (109 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Demessie appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (90.8%), Two or More Races (5.0%), Hispanic (2.5%). 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 Demessie (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 Demessie mean?
An Amharic surname meaning "of Messiah" or "follower of Christ". 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 Demessie (0.04 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 common is the surname Demessie?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many people have the surname Demessie at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.