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

Getaneh, 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 Getaneh surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Getaneh in America

Getaneh is the 126765th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Getaneh surname appeared 135 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 Getaneh.

The history of the last name Getaneh

The surname GETANEH has its origins in Ethiopia, with roots that can be traced back to the 15th century. It is believed to be derived from the Amharic word "geta," meaning "paradise" or "garden," and "neh," which is a suffix indicating possession or belonging. Thus, the name GETANEH may have originally referred to someone who lived in or was associated with a paradisiacal or garden-like area.

One of the earliest known references to the GETANEH surname can be found in the Kebre Negast, an important 14th-century literary work that chronicles the purported lineage of the Solomonic dynasty in Ethiopia. This text mentions a noble family bearing the GETANEH name, suggesting their prominence and influence during that era.

In the 16th century, the GETANEH name appeared in the chronicles of the Portuguese Jesuit missionary Pedro Páez, who spent several years in Ethiopia and documented his observations about the country and its people. Páez's writings provide valuable insights into the social and political landscape of the time, including references to prominent individuals with the GETANEH surname.

During the 17th century, the GETANEH family played a significant role in the court of Emperor Fasilidas, one of the most influential rulers of the Solomonic dynasty. Historical records indicate that a high-ranking official named Getaneh Tewodros served as a trusted advisor to the emperor, demonstrating the family's continued influence and prestige.

One notable figure in Ethiopian history who bore the GETANEH surname was Blattengeta Heruy Wolde Sellassie Getaneh (1878-1938), a prominent nobleman and military leader who served as the Minister of War during the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie I. He played a crucial role in modernizing the Ethiopian army and defending the country against the Italian invasion in the 1930s.

Another prominent individual was Getaneh Wolde Semayat (1903-1973), a renowned scholar and linguist who made significant contributions to the study and preservation of Amharic and other Semitic languages in Ethiopia. He served as the director of the Ethiopian National Library and played a pivotal role in the development of modern literary traditions in the country.

Additionally, Getaneh Engeda (1922-2001), a distinguished diplomat and politician, served as the Foreign Minister of Ethiopia from 1976 to 1977 and played a crucial role in shaping the country's foreign policy during a turbulent period in its history.

The GETANEH surname continues to be widely present in Ethiopia, with many notable individuals bearing this name and contributing to various fields, from academia and politics to the arts and literature.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Getaneh

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!