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

Haileselassie, 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 Haileselassie surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Haileselassie in America

Haileselassie is the 100302nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Haileselassie surname appeared 180 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 Haileselassie.

The history of the last name Haileselassie

The surname Haileselassie is of Ethiopian origin, tracing its roots back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Amharic language, with "Haile" meaning "power" or "might" and "Selassie" meaning "trinity" or the holy trinity, referring to the Christian concept of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This name was closely associated with the Solomonic dynasty, which ruled Ethiopia from the 13th to the 20th century.

The earliest recorded use of the name Haileselassie dates back to the reign of Emperor Amda Seyon I, who ruled Ethiopia from 1314 to 1344. He was known for his military campaigns and efforts to strengthen the Ethiopian Empire. The name Haileselassie was used as a title or honorific for rulers and nobles, signifying their divine right to rule and their connection to the Christian faith.

During the 16th century, the name Haileselassie appeared in several manuscripts and chronicles documenting the reigns of various Ethiopian emperors. One notable figure was Emperor Galawdewos (1540-1559), who bore the title Haileselassie and was known for his efforts to defend Ethiopia against invasions by the Ottoman Empire and its allies.

In the 19th century, the name Haileselassie gained further prominence with the rise of Kassa Hailu, who later became Emperor Tewodros II (1818-1868). He adopted the name Haileselassie as part of his imperial title, cementing its association with the Ethiopian monarchy.

The most famous bearer of the name Haileselassie was Emperor Haile Selassie I (1892-1975), who ruled Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974. He was a significant figure in the 20th century, known for his efforts to modernize Ethiopia, his resistance against Italian occupation during World War II, and his role in the formation of the Organization of African Unity (now the African Union).

Other notable individuals with the surname Haileselassie include Ras Haileselassie Gugsa (1883-1962), a prominent Ethiopian noble and military leader; Dejazmach Haileselassie Gugsa (1876-1938), an Ethiopian governor and military commander; and Lij Haileselassie Gugsa (1919-2003), an Ethiopian prince and nobleman.

While the surname Haileselassie is closely associated with the Ethiopian monarchy and nobility, it has also been adopted by commoners and families with no direct connection to the royal lineage, reflecting the cultural significance and reverence for the name within Ethiopian society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Haileselassie

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

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

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

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