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

Feleke, 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 Feleke surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Feleke in America

Feleke is the 63698th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Feleke surname appeared 313 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 Feleke.

We can also compare 2010 data for Feleke 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 Feleke

The surname FELEKE has its origins traced back to Ethiopia, where it emerged during the late 15th century. This name is believed to have derived from the Amharic word "feleke," which means "universe" or "world." It is thought to have been initially used as a descriptive surname, potentially referring to someone with a broad or expansive perspective or knowledge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the FELEKE surname can be found in the chronicles of the Solomonic dynasty, which ruled over the Ethiopian Empire from the 13th to the 20th century. These chronicles mention a nobleman named Feleke Selassie, who served as a trusted advisor to Emperor Zara Yaqob in the late 15th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the FELEKE surname gained prominence among the educated and scholarly circles of Ethiopia. Notable figures from this period include Feleke Gebre Medhin (1535-1610), a renowned philosopher and theologian, and Feleke Iyesus (1590-1660), a celebrated poet and writer whose works significantly influenced the development of Amharic literature.

As Ethiopia's influence expanded in the region, the FELEKE surname also spread to neighboring countries, such as Eritrea and Somalia, where it was adopted by individuals who migrated or had cultural ties with Ethiopia. One notable bearer of this name was Feleke Gebre-Egziabher (1725-1795), an Eritrean merchant and explorer who traveled extensively throughout the Horn of Africa and documented his journeys in a series of memoirs.

In the 19th century, the FELEKE surname gained further recognition through the exploits of Feleke Gebru (1810-1882), a renowned military strategist and commander who played a pivotal role in the Battles of Gura, Gundet, and Gura-Hailu during the Ethiopian-Egyptian War of 1875-1876.

Another significant figure bearing the FELEKE surname was Feleke Gebre-Tsadik (1870-1945), an Ethiopian intellectual and educator who was instrumental in establishing modern educational systems in the country. His efforts laid the foundation for the expansion of literacy and the promotion of Amharic as the national language of Ethiopia.

Throughout its history, the FELEKE surname has been associated with individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields, including literature, philosophy, exploration, military strategy, and education. While the name's origins can be traced back to Ethiopia, its legacy has transcended borders and continues to be carried on by individuals of diverse backgrounds and nationalities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Feleke

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

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

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

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