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

Getahun, 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 Getahun surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Getahun in America

Getahun is the 48901st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Getahun surname appeared 431 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 Getahun.

We can also compare 2010 data for Getahun 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 Getahun

The surname Getahun has its origins in Ethiopia, deriving from the Amharic language spoken in the country. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 13th to 16th centuries, when Amharic developed as a distinct language from the Semitic root language.

Getahun is a combination of two Amharic words: "geta," meaning "holiday" or "feast," and "hun," which is a possessive suffix indicating ownership or belonging. Thus, the name can be interpreted as "one who has a holiday" or "one associated with a feast." This suggests that the name may have initially been given to individuals who held important roles during religious or cultural celebrations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Getahun can be found in the chronicles of the Solomonic dynasty, which ruled Ethiopia from the 13th to the 20th century. In these historical accounts, there are mentions of individuals bearing the name Getahun, often in relation to religious or court ceremonies.

Notable individuals with the surname Getahun include Getahun Tsige, a 16th-century scholar and poet renowned for his contributions to Amharic literature. Another prominent figure was Getahun Wolde Semayat, a 19th-century statesman and diplomat who played a crucial role in establishing diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and various European nations.

In the 20th century, Getahun Neway was a celebrated Ethiopian novelist and playwright whose works explored themes of social justice and cultural identity. His seminal novel, "Yefikir Anbessa," published in 1962, is considered a landmark work in Amharic literature.

Getahun Mekuria, born in 1935, was a notable Ethiopian painter and sculptor whose works were heavily influenced by traditional Ethiopian art and culture. His sculptures and paintings adorned many public spaces and institutions across the country, cementing his legacy as a significant figure in Ethiopian art.

Another noteworthy individual was Getahun Bilata, a prominent Ethiopian athlete who excelled in long-distance running. He won multiple international marathons and represented Ethiopia in several Olympic Games, including the 1972 Munich Olympics and the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

While the surname Getahun has its origins in Ethiopia, it has spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its roots remain firmly grounded in the rich cultural and linguistic heritage of the Amharic people of Ethiopia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Getahun

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

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

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

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