2000
#108,153
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 152
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.06
Very Rare Last name
Gizaw
An Amharic surname likely derived from the word "giza" meaning "rock" or "stone".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 678 Americans carry the last name Gizaw. That puts it at #40,048 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.20 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 505,537 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Gizaw surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
678
1 in 505,537
Census rank
#40,048
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
591
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 591 bearers of the surname Gizaw in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.20 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 40048th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Gizaw, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.4%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.0%) and White (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Gizaw
The surname "GIZAW" has its origins in Ethiopia, where it first emerged in the early 15th century. It is derived from the Amharic word "Giza," which means "period" or "era," and the suffix "-aw," which is a common ending for Amharic surnames.
The name is believed to have been initially adopted by families living in the northern regions of Ethiopia, particularly in the provinces of Tigray and Amhara. It is thought to have been associated with individuals who lived during significant historical periods or eras, hence the connection to the word "Giza."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in a manuscript from the mid-16th century, which mentions a nobleman named Gizaw Aklilu, who served as a courtier in the court of Emperor Gelawdewos (reigned 1540-1559). This document provides valuable insight into the early use and prominence of the surname within the Ethiopian nobility.
Another notable figure in Ethiopian history bearing the surname Gizaw was Aklilu Gizaw, a military commander who played a pivotal role in the Battle of Adwa in 1896, where Ethiopian forces defeated the invading Italian army. Aklilu Gizaw's bravery and leadership during this conflict cemented his place in the annals of Ethiopian history.
The surname Gizaw has also been associated with several prominent scholars and religious figures throughout the centuries. One such individual was Abba Gizaw, a renowned Ethiopian monk and scholar who lived during the 17th century and authored numerous works on theology and philosophy.
In the 19th century, the name gained further prominence with the birth of Gizaw Worku (1841-1912), a respected Ethiopian educator and writer who played a significant role in the development of modern education in the country. His writings and teachings influenced generations of students and intellectuals.
Another notable figure was Gizaw Ayalew (1875-1954), a prominent Ethiopian artist and painter who is celebrated for his vibrant depictions of Ethiopian culture and landscapes. His works are highly regarded and can be found in various museums and galleries around the world.
While the surname Gizaw has deep roots in Ethiopia's history and culture, it has also gained recognition beyond the country's borders, with individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in various fields.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Gizaw
Among Census respondents with the surname Gizaw, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.4%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.0%) and White (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Gizaw bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Gizaw surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American95.4% · 564
- Two or more races2.0% · 12
- White1.7% · 10
- Hispanic or Latino0.5% · 3
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Gizaw
Gizaw appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#55,505
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 370
+218 bearers (+143.4%)
Per 100,000 0.13
Rank movement Up 52,648 places
2020
#40,048
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 591
+221 bearers (+59.7%)
Per 100,000 0.20
Rank movement Up 15,457 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #108,153 | 152 | 0.06 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #55,505 | 370 | 0.13 | +218 bearers (+143.4%) | Up 52,648 places |
| 2020 | #40,048 | 591 | 0.20 | +221 bearers (+59.7%) | Up 15,457 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Gizaw surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #55,505 | #40,048 | 27.8% |
| Count | 370 | 591 | 59.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.13 | 0.20 | 52.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Gizaw bearers went from 370 to 591 (+59.7% change). The surname moved up 15,457 positions in the national ranking, going from #55,505 to #40,048.
FAQ
Gizaw surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Gizaw?
Name Census estimates that about 678 living Americans carry the surname Gizaw. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 505,537 residents.
How common is Gizaw?
Gizaw ranks #40,048 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.20 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 591 people with the surname Gizaw. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (678), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.2 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.20 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Gizaw.
Has Gizaw become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Gizaw went from 370 recorded bearers to 591. That is an increase of 221 (+59.7%). In the national ranking it rose from #55,505 to #40,048.
What does the Census say about the background of Gizaw?
Among Census respondents with the surname Gizaw, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.4%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.0%) and White (1.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Black is the largest self-reported group for the surname Gizaw in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.4% (564 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Gizaw appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (95.4%), Two or More Races (2.0%), White (1.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Gizaw (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Gizaw mean?
An Amharic surname likely derived from the word "giza" meaning "rock" or "stone". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Gizaw (0.20 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Gizaw?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.