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

Gebreyes, 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 Gebreyes surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gebreyes in America

Gebreyes is the 125282nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gebreyes surname appeared 137 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 Gebreyes.

The history of the last name Gebreyes

The surname "GEBREYES" has its origins in Ethiopia, tracing back to the 14th century. It is derived from the Amharic language, with "Gebre" meaning "servant" and "yes" referring to Jesus, thus translating to "servant of Jesus."

This name was prominent among the Amhara people, who were the dominant ethnic group in the Ethiopian highlands during the medieval period. It is believed to have been initially adopted by followers of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, as a reflection of their religious devotion.

In the 15th century, the name is mentioned in several chronicles and historical accounts from the Solomonic dynasty, which ruled Ethiopia from the 13th to the 20th century. One notable figure was Gebreyes Habtemariam, a prominent cleric and scholar who lived during the reign of Emperor Zara Yaqob (1434-1468).

During the 16th century, the Gebreyes family held significant influence in the province of Begemder, located in northwestern Ethiopia. Records from this period mention Gebreyes Amde Tsion, a nobleman and military leader who played a crucial role in the battles against the Ottoman Empire's invasion attempts.

In the 18th century, Gebreyes Haile Selassie, a renowned scholar and theologian, made significant contributions to the preservation of ancient Ethiopian manuscripts and texts. His works are still studied by scholars today.

The 19th century saw the rise of Gebreyes Abba Matewos, a prominent figure in the Ethiopian Unionist movement, which sought to unite the country's various kingdoms and provinces under a strong central authority. His efforts played a crucial role in shaping the modern Ethiopian state.

Another notable individual bearing the surname Gebreyes was Gebreyes Wolde Selassie, a diplomat and statesman who served as the Ethiopian Ambassador to the United States in the early 20th century, during the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie I.

Throughout history, the name Gebreyes has been associated with various regions of Ethiopia, including Begemder, Lasta, and Gondar, where it has been particularly prevalent among the Amhara community.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gebreyes

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

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 Gebreyes 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.

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

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

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