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

Gemechu, 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 Gemechu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gemechu in America

Gemechu is the 115034th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gemechu surname appeared 152 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 Gemechu.

The history of the last name Gemechu

The surname GEMECHU is of Ethiopian origin, dating back to the 15th century. It is believed to have originated in the Oromia region of Ethiopia, where it was derived from the Oromo language. The name is thought to have roots in the word "gama," which means "village" or "settlement."

The earliest known record of the GEMECHU surname can be found in the chronicles of the Abyssinian Empire, where it was associated with a prominent family of landowners and local leaders. During this time, the name was often spelled "Gammachu" or "Gammachuu," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and orthography.

In the 16th century, the GEMECHU family played a significant role in the historical events surrounding the reign of Emperor Gelawdewos. One notable figure was Gemechu Gelaye, a respected military commander who led his forces against the invading Ottoman Turks in the Battle of Shimbra Kure in 1529.

Another prominent individual with the GEMECHU surname was Beza Gemechu, a renowned scholar and theologian who lived in the 17th century. His writings and teachings on Ge'ez literature and Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity made him a highly influential figure during that era.

During the 19th century, the GEMECHU name was closely associated with the Oromo resistance against the expanding Ethiopian Empire. Gemechu Abba Bulgu, born in 1820, was a prominent Oromo leader who fought to defend his people's autonomy and way of life.

In more recent times, the GEMECHU surname has continued to be prominent in various fields. Merga Gemechu, born in 1936, was a renowned Ethiopian novelist and playwright whose works explored themes of social justice and cultural identity.

It is worth noting that while the GEMECHU surname has its roots in Ethiopia, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, the majority of individuals bearing this surname can trace their ancestral lineage back to the Oromo people of Ethiopia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gemechu

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

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

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

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