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

Gebreselassie, 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 Gebreselassie surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gebreselassie in America

Gebreselassie is the 62714th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gebreselassie surname appeared 319 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 Gebreselassie.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gebreselassie 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 Gebreselassie

The surname Gebreselassie originated in Ethiopia, with its roots dating back to the ancient Semitic languages spoken in the region. The name is derived from the combination of the Amharic words "Gebre," meaning "servant," and "Selassie," which is a reference to the former Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I.

Historically, the Gebreselassie name was associated with families who claimed lineage to the Solomonic dynasty, which ruled Ethiopia for centuries. This dynasty traced its roots back to the biblical King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. As a result, the name Gebreselassie carried a sense of reverence and prestige within Ethiopian society.

One of the earliest documented references to the Gebreselassie name can be found in the annals of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, where various individuals bearing the name held prominent positions within the clergy. For instance, Gebre Selassie Welde Ab, a noted Ethiopian scholar and cleric from the 16th century, authored several works on theology and philosophy.

In the realm of Ethiopian literature, the name Gebreselassie is also closely tied to the famous philosopher and writer, Zera Yacob Gebreselassie (1599-1692). His works, which explored themes of rationalism and enlightenment, had a profound influence on Ethiopian intellectual thought.

Another notable figure with the Gebreselassie surname was Ras Gebre Selassie (1828-1894), a prominent military leader and nobleman during the reign of Emperor Yohannes IV. He played a crucial role in several battles against Italian forces during the First Italo-Ethiopian War.

In more recent times, the name Gebreselassie has gained global recognition through the achievements of Haile Gebreselassie (born in 1973), one of the greatest long-distance runners of all time. With multiple Olympic and World Championship medals, as well as numerous world records, he has become a national hero in Ethiopia and an iconic figure in the world of athletics.

While the Gebreselassie name is deeply rooted in Ethiopian history and culture, it has also spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins and significance remain firmly tied to the ancient traditions and lineages of the Ethiopian highlands.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gebreselassie

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

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

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

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